Disney!Hetalia x Reader

North Italy: Sleeping Beauty [3]

On the evening of her eighteenth birthday, the three maidens dawned the princess in a dark cloak and set off towards King Stefan's castle. As she marched along, the forest felt frozen in time, keeping with it the memories of [Name]'s childhood.

As they neared the castle, [Name] stopped, feeling a sense of emptiness as she finally stepped out of the grove. She turned and looked longingly at what was once her home. The things she had grown tired of were now the things she so desperately missed. Letting out a shaky breath, she reluctantly turned to follow the fairies.

Merryweather took [Name]'s, giving her a small smile to which was not returned. Merryweather's smile faded, and [Name] gently pulled her hand away, brushing ahead of the fairy without giving her so much as a single glance.

With the castle coming within view, the fairies made sure [Name] was by their side as they edged around the castle walls. They entered through the castle gates, swiftly making their way to the edge of the palace walls towards the servants' quarters.

Entering the empty kitchen, the three pushed a dusty cabinet aside, revealing a stairwell. Each of them squeezed through the tiny entrance, racing as fast as they could up the stairs. When they had reached the top of the steps, the fairies led [Name] into a side room.

"Come along, now!" called Flora, scanning the surroundings before shutting and bolting the door, "Fauna, pull the drapes!"

Fauna pulls the drapes over the open balcony and the three fairies then guide [Name] to a bed. A bed fit for a princess.

She sits down reluctantly, only ever gazing down at her hands with her lips quivering as she held back tears. The three fairies exchanged pitiful glances.

"Now, dear," Flora took [Name]'s chin gently, bringing her head up to meet Flora's eyes, "allow us to give this one last gift."

The three fairies each took out their wands. "The symbol of thy royalty; a crown to wear in grace and beauty, as is thy right, and royal duty."

With the flick of their wrists, a royal crown appears on [Name]'s head, but she doesn't stir. Instead, with a single, sharp inhale, she throws her head into her hands and begins sobbing.

Merryweather, startled, pushes the other two fairies away from the tragic sight. "Let's give her a few moments alone."

When they'd stepped outside, the air was uncomfortably silent. All they could do was listen to the cries of a broken heart and lament to themselves.

"It's that boy," Fauna manages to choke out, bringing a hand to her mouth to hold back her own sobs.

"What are we going to do?" Merryweather asked rhetorically, turning to look back down the dark staircase.

Meanwhile, in the room, beside [Name], the fire flickered unusually in the fireplace. The princess hadn't noticed as she ran her hands through her scalp.

The room then grew dark, as the fire blew out. The smoke the fire had left behind began molding into a human-like figure, and within its center lay a bright green light. The light flared brilliantly, causing the figure to disappear, and finally, catching [Name]'s attention as the light nearly illuminated the entire room.

She stared in wonder, her tears quickly beginning to dry. She seemed to forget where she was, why she was there, the boy, the forest, everything. She was completely mesmerized by this gleaming light.

[Name] rose from the bedside, gradually making her approach towards the light. Her movements were slow and lifeless like she was a mere puppet. It fluttered towards her, before flickering back below the cobblestone framework, beckoning her. When she neared the fireplace, a bright light flooded her vision, and when glancing back, the stone wall behind the charred wood had turned into an obscure and eerie corridor.