Disney!Hetalia x Reader

North Italy: Sleeping Beauty [2]

So, for nearly eighteen years, the whereabouts of the princess remained a mystery, while deep in the forest, in the once-abandoned woodcutter's cottage, the three fairies raised her. Living as mortals, they had reared the child as their own and called her Briar Rose.

"Oh, Rose!" called Fauna downstairs.

"Coming!"

And down the steps, gracefully, came a young girl, with silky [hair] and shimmering [eyes] she beamed with curiosity. Like many others her age, she longed for a new way of life, someone to whisk her off her feet and take her far, far away. Who could blame the poor girl? She'd never met anyone outside the three maidens, let alone anybody her own age. Anytime one of the maidens asked her to pick berries or tend to the garden, anything to do with getting outside, she'd jump with joy.

"Yes, Fauna?" the girl asked innocently.

Fauna rummaged around the pantry, finally pulling out a wooden basket and handing it to Rose. "Please go out and pick some berries, would you, dear? We're running a bit low and we were hoping to—"

The maiden was quickly shushed by her fellow fairies, Mistress Flora then speaking up, pushing the confused girl out the door before she could properly get a word out.

"Stay within the grove, don't go wandering outside the forest," she requested before closing the door to the cottage a bit abruptly.

Rose looked back at the cottage a bit bewildered but tried not to dwell on it. She walked down the dirt path, as she got deeper into the forest, gazing around bored.

"Same old path, same old trees..." she sighed, letting the basket bounce against her legs.

As she continued on her path, stopping every so often to collect berries, she began singing. She sang no particular song, no words, just her voice. Rose basked in the quiet woods, despite it being the same old sights every day, she could appreciate the silence and the absence of three buggering old women.

Noticing a few birds beginning to sing along with her, she continued, even singing to the birds every now and then. Eventually, she stopped at the riverbed, glancing down into the shimmering waters longingly.

"Even being a trout would be more entertaining," she groaned, cupping her hands into the water and splashing her face. She then continued to stare into the glimmering waters, just welcoming the warmth of the sunrays beaming down as they caressed her skin.

A rustle in the bushes behind Rose caused her to squeal as she spun around, expecting to face some terrifying creature. A wolf? A bear? Her palms began sweating as she scanned the bushes frantically. She was sure to meet her end right there on that riverbed.

But to her surprise, a mighty white steed carrying a rather dashing young man dawned in drapes of vermillion red appeared from behind the brustles. The young man smiled when he spotted her as if he'd hoped she'd be there. He lept off his horse, making quick strides to meet the young girl at the riverbed.

Rose panicked, trying to run in the opposite direction only to be met with cold, wet feet. She shivered, backing up into the man's chest. She froze, and looked up slowly, meeting his eyes.

"Ciao, Bella!"

She nearly screamed, rushing forward and around him. She tried to make an escape, her shoes nearly slipping off as she dug her feet into the dirt trying to run. The man reached out, grabbing her hand. Rose pushed it away before he grabbed her wrist with his other hand.

"No! Please, I—" Rose tried to plead with him as she pulled at her arm, tears threatening to fall as her face reddened with frustration.

"Wait, wait, wait! Please don't be scared," he cried, loosening his hold on Rose's wrist, "I'm not going to hurt you!"