Across the Universe

Once Upon a Time... (Fairy Tale AU)

The sun shone on the land of Sokovia, casting its golden light onto the war-torn little kingdom, creating a horrifying stark contrast. Buildings were in ruins, and those that were still standing were old and run-down. Ivy and other types of plant life scaled the stone walls and covered more of the streets than people would've liked, though no one did anything about it. What once were beautiful forests where fairies and others benign creatures roamed free, were now dark and overrun with carnivorous creatures that preyed on the innocent that accidently stumbled into it late at night.

Ever since the deaths of the King and Queen, the kingdom fell into a civil war that lasted for several years, and then spent the last few years engaged in different wars with various other kingdoms that fought against the small nation and each other for control. Attacks were random so it was rare to see people outside of their homes for long periods of time.

The troops that were stationed inside the small defenseless kingdom were rude and inconsiderate. They would engage with enemies in the open streets, take what they wanted from the markets, set fire to fields when the tenants couldn't pay the rent, and would terrorize the downtrodden citizens.

During the first few years of war, the people hoped and prayed for some sort of redemption, mostly praying for Prince Pietro and Princess Wanda to help deliver them from pain and suffering, but nothing came. No one had heard from either the prince or the princess since the deaths of their parents, but a few years later, tragedy struck the small kingdom once more when it was revealed that Prince Pietro had been found dead in his room.

With the many wars over, the people breathed a small sigh of relief, though the aftermath of the wars still ravaged them. Famine swept through the land and hung above the heads of the people like an everlasting dark cloud.

Despite the sadness the plagued the kingdom, the young princess Wanda worked tirelessly to provide what little happiness she could. She organized different events and festivities that were open to all people, held banquets where she shared the food that she had, volunteered at orphanages and shelters to help care for the children that were left behind and the poor, organized trade with her allies to bring in more food and goods.

Regardless of all she did, it was never enough. As an unmarried and uncrowned monarch, she could only do so much for her people and it bugged her. She knew that she could do a whole lot more if she was officially crowned queen, but she couldn't be crowned unless she was married, which got on her nerves. For two years her advisors had set her up with different matches to try to arrange a marriage for her, but she turned them all away. She didn't just want to marry for political and financial gain, she wanted to marry for love too, but she knew she couldn't be selfish, and that killed her. She hated how this much responsibility fell to her and affected her personal life, dictating who she was allowed to marry. And yet, she suck it and tried not to be too picky when presented with a potential match.

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In the country, on the outskirts of Sokovia's northern borders, in a well-kept manor lived a young woman. She had fiery red hair that flowed freely to the middle of her back, wound in loose curls that danced in the soft blowing wind. Her name was Claire. She lived alone, her only company being a small black dog named Bicky that followed her all around the manor and connecting grounds as she went about her chores. When she wasn't doing chores at her own house, she went around to all the closest houses in the nearby town performing small house-keeping services. Though they were grateful for her offer, most people politely turned her down so they wouldn't have to pay her, which she understood. Her only regular customers were a small well-to-do family—the Carters—that practically abused her and her generosity.