The Hidden City (Troyler AU)

1. Onety-Ninth Birthday

                I. Prologue

A raggedy, sea worn boy places a small telescope to his eye and peers out towards the choppy sea. He scans around, looking upon a small island in the distance. A quiet gasp escapes his mouth and he quickly scampers down a tangle of rope netting, thumping down on to the deck below.

'Captain Mellet, I think you're going to want to see this.'

'May I.' The young man holds out his hand, gesturing to the boy who places the telescope in his palm. The captain quickly walks to the front of the boat, raising the object to his eye. Lying, washed up on the island is a beautiful young woodland fairy. Her dark black hair glistens in the sunlight and her flawless skin appears soft despite her exposure to the elements.

'Crew, prepare to land on the island.'

The crew sets out for the island, completely unaware that this simple event is the spark of hope in a world that does not yet need saving.

                II. The arrival

25 years later

"Troye, TROYE, TTRROOYYYEE, TTTTTRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOYYYYYYYEEEEE!!!!!!!!!"

Troye groaned as his younger brother, Tyde, jumped onto his drowsy frame.

"OW! Are you trying to kill me!" Troye grumbled, clearly unhappy with his rough awakening.

"Sorry, I was just excited is all... cause your friends are here!!! I just saw them coming down the road now, they'll be here any minute." Troye shot up, a huge smile spreading across his face. He leapt up and quickly made his way out to the front of the house and turned to look down the road. In the distance was a small party, quickly approaching entirely on horseback, all except for a large beast, pacing quickly beside them. Troye squealed with excitement, drawing the attention of his brother who had just made his way out to join him.

"Now do you forgive me for waking you up." Tyde laughed.

"No." Troye joked, poking his tongue out at his brother. "Race you to them." And with that Troye jumped from the balcony of their treetop home and onto a lower branch before speeding off, expertly maneuvering his way through the canopy which covered the road to his home. Troye continued, oblivious to the fact his brother had not moved and inch. His feet silently hit the bark beneath him as his body weaved around the branches in his path. Then he jumped, landing on the back of Tyler's horse and frightening all of his unaware friends.

"Hi Guys!" Troye yelled, balancing perfectly, stood on the back of Tyler's still moving horse. Excited yells of 'Troye' and 'Why do you always have to do that' ensued, as Troye watched on laughing, happy to see all his friends back together again. "Come on, we're almost at my place." Troye sunk down to sit behind his best friend as the party moved forwards, wrapping his arms around the man's waist. "Hey Tilly." Troye whispered into the elf's ear as they rode along.

"Hey birthday boy." Tyler whispered back as a smiling Troye rested his chin over his shoulder.

The party soon arrived outside the house, greeted by Laurelle, adorned in a beautiful white gown, and Shaun, smiling suspiciously at Tyler and Troye. The pack dismounted, and Tyde took the horses, leading them to the stable behind the house. The strange half bear, half wolf creature that had been pacing along with them began to shrink, slowly morphing into an excited looking Hannah.

"That is still the coolest party trick of all time." Troye grinned, pulling Hannah into a big hug.

"What can I say, skinchangers are just the life of the party."