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Chapter 1 [a Tale As Old As Time]

chapter 1 [a tale as old as time]

chapter 1: a cursed kingdom

“i want adventure in the great wide somewhere! i want it more than i can tell!” - belle

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a simple village life. that’s all you’d ever known.

everyday you walked the same paths, saw the same faces, ate the same food, read the same books. it was a never-ending cycle, almost as though you were secondary characters playing out their minimal roles in a story while the main characters lived out the adventures.

unlike the rest of the villagers, being a secondary character was not sufficient for you.

you craved more. you didn’t want to be just another number in the village, waiting for someone to come solve your problems and be your knight-in-shining-armour. you wanted to be a hero. the dragon slayer, or the retriever of stolen goods: someone a kingdom would celebrate and raise on their shoulders.

you wanted to be something special.

however, despite your wildest imaginations and the strain in your heart, you were nothing more than what you feared; a simple villager. another number, just like all the rest. there were no dragons to be slain, no thefts to be returned to their rightful owners, and damsels in distress waiting with bated breath for someone to save them were nowhere to be found.

unless you knew where to look.

you pushed open the hefty door, feeling a wave of euphoria wash over you as you stepped inside. this was the one place in the village that didn’t make you feel so small, so alone. it was a safehaven of sorts. an escape from reality.

as always, you greeted the librarian kindly before making your way to the shelves upon shelves of awaiting opportunities, each offering its own path at your desired heroics.

“what will it be today, y/n?” the old librarian asked, curiously. you shrugged, allowing your finger to run swiftly along the spines of the old, worn down books before closing your eyes and gently plucking one from the shelf. he peered over curiously, smiling fondly. “ah, romeo and juliet. a classic.”

you smiled brightly, tugging the book closely to your chest and spinning in a small circle dramatically. “oh, isn’t it lovely? the tale of star crossed lovers, fighting against all odds to be together? oh, what i would give for a love like theirs.” you sighed dreamily, the librarian laughing lightly at your antics.

“well, according to the town gossip, you have a mighty fine admirer who would adore your love and attention.” he teased, and you visibly rolled your eyes.

“you couldn’t possibly mean quackity.” you scoffed, “he is an egotistical streetrat that cares about nothing more than his appearance! he only ‘wants’ me because i don’t want him.” the librarian hummed in response, chuckling softly.

quackity was notorious in your quaint little village. he was the kind of person that everyone either wanted to be, or wanted to marry. save for you, of course. being upfront, you found him absolutely insufferable, and his ego was far too large to grasp that anyone could ‘resist his boyish charm’, as he put it. thus, his mission to gain your attention and wed you began.

you of course, would never stoop to the low that was him. not for any amount of books in the world.

“whatever you say, y/n.” he shook his head slowly, a playful expression adorning his features. “enjoy your reading, and make sure you pass on my hello to your old man!”

you agreed, thanking the librarian once more before walking back out onto the pebbled roads. on your journey home, you waved to the numerous villagers you passed, ignoring the judgemental stares they bestowed upon you.

you knew they didn’t approve of your free-spirited ways. in their minds, everyone had their roles to play. you simply didn’t play the role you were given, and in turn you became an outcast, a stranger. you tried not to pay them any mind, because you were happy with your lifestyle. the only issue you had was because of your father.

philza was highly respected in your small village. though he kept to himself most often, the people found him quite endearing, and pitied him for the loss of his wife and the struggles that came with raising a child on his own.

and although he assured you time and time again that you could never be a disappointment, you couldn’t help but imagine how much easier life would’ve been on him had you been like everyone else and followed the path that had been expected of you.

it was a constant internal war, the tugging in your heart begging you to pursue your desires, versus the overwhelming need to care for and stay with your father.

you always chose the latter, but realistically if you’d chosen otherwise, where would you even go?

technoblade wandered the familiar corridors, his mind off somewhere far from his own head. he did this often, allowing himself a chance to breathe without the rage that resonated inside of him bubbling over.

one would think he was lonely in the impossibly large building he called a home, but to him, it could not have been any smaller. years and years of listening to his once human staff beg him to leave to the outside, to find someone who could love him. someone to break the curse he brought upon them all.

he was never lonely. the only emotion he seemed to feel was anger, especially now. they were upon the last few petals that would seal their fates permanently. he had so much searing anger, he didn’t know what to do with it all. he was mad at the witch, for cursing them. he was mad at the world for fearing him.

but mostly, he was mad at himself, for being so wretched, he doomed the only people who ever cared for him to a fate worse than death.

his leisurely strolls gave him a sense of freedom, away from the talking teacups, dancing feather dusters and self-playing pianos. his time away from his friends was the only time he could pretend to not be aware of the fate they all awaited. pretend that he was just an average prince wandering about his castle.

techno’s ears perked, hearing the sound of heavy footsteps echoing through the mostly abandoned building. he snarled, his serenity broken and his suppressed anger returning with a fiery burn. he swiftly made his way to the banister overlooking the main entrance hall, careful to remain hidden from the eyes of the intruder.

“hello?” they called out. lurking in the shadows, technoblade watched as a shivering old man with a strange hat stumbled into his abode, abruptly and without welcome. “i’ve just come to escape the cold. i’ll be gone shortly!” his voice bounced off the chipped walls, receiving no response other than the echo of his own voice.

techno was livid. if there’s one thing he wasn’t fond of, it was ignorant humans. they served as a reminder of what he once was, and what he would never be again. how dare this man enter his home and be so blatantly rude?

all technoblade saw was red as he watched the old man situate himself in front of the fireplace. easily pulling an axe off the wall, he swung it over his shoulders, sneaking his way down to where the intruder stood.

stepping up behind him, techno snarled once more, catching the old man’s attention. he turned, slowly, and let out a scream. he instantly began to back away, and with each step backwards, techno took one forward. “you- you’re a…” the intruder stuttered, and techno bared his teeth, menacingly.

“a beast.” he whispered, a wicked smile on his face. he cackled, watching as the man in front of him trembled in fear. he was once again reminded of the reason he had isolated himself for all those years.

his expression darkened, thoughts ablaze as he hit the man with the knob of his axe, easily knocking him out. throwing the unconscious male over his shoulder, he ignored the stares of his transfigured peers and proceeded towards the dungeons, keen on having the traveller pay for his intrusion.

the last remaining bit of humanity he had tore at his subconscious, begging for him to reconsider. he simply brushed it off, however. all he did was act the role he was given. he was, after all, a monster.

and thanks to his curse, that’s all he would ever be.

you were hanging your freshly washed clothing, humming along a small tune as you did so. you performed a small intricate dance, wringing the delicate cloth and doing a small spin towards the wire, stringing it up and swaying back towards the pile to repeat the task.

a loud galloping sound brought you back down to earth, your head shooting in the direction of the sound. your eyes widened as you recognized the horse barrelling in your direction. “carl?” you muttered, rushing over. in spotting you, carl slowed, but thrashed and whined, worrying you instantly.

you ran a hand over his mane, worryingly searching behind him. “where’s father? carl, where is he?” you asked in a panic, only receiving a whine in return. a sinking feeling arose in your chest, expecting the worst. “take me to him.” you swiftly mounted the steed, holding tight as he took off in the direction he came.

you watched as the village came to an end, a never-before-seen landscape encasing your frontal and peripheral vision. an unexplainable rush of freedom and relief flooded you instantly upon feeling the change from the harsh cobblestone to soft dirt under carl’s hooves.

under better circumstances, you probably would’ve basked in the undeniable happiness and excitement threatening to spill out at the view of the new terrain before you. unfortunately, you hadn’t had the luxury of enjoying your first venture away from the village.

you had one thing on your mind, and that was saving your father.

you held tightly to carl's reins, eyes barely dancing over the foreign land as you passed. you soaked in as much of the greenery you could, and nearly gasped when you noticed what lay ahead.

as though separated by a drawn line, breaking off from the beautiful summer fields sat a forest that sent a wave of unease rushing through you. spiked branches stuck out from frozen trunks, a blanket of freshly fallen snow littering the ground.

you tugged on the reins as you approached, slowing to a walk as you entered the frozen-over area. passing from the summer to winter season sent a chill up your spine, both from the cold and from the nerves you felt in that moment.

up ahead, you noticed your father’s cart tipped over, its contents spilled haphazardly into the snow. you approached slowly, trying to be mindful of where carl stepped. it proved difficult, however, with the sudden harsh wind nipping at your bare skin. you were forced to squint to make out your surroundings, vaguely aware of the solid icicles hanging menacingly from above where you stood.

as another chill ran down your spine, you decided you shouldn’t dwell much longer, desperate to find some warmth and hopefully, your father. you urged carl to move forward cautiously. glancing ahead, your eyes widened as you took in the sight in front of you.

you entered a large clearing, the remnants of what looked to have been a gorgeous hedge garden. what still stood of the once lively hedges were wilted to a dull grey, covered completely in heavy layers of frost and ice. that wasn’t what caught your attention, however.

a little ways away, stood an exquisite castle that looked as though it had been long since abandoned. bits and pieces of the pristine exterior were cracked, missing, or simply looked as though they’d crumble under your body weight. still, there was no denying the beauty in its structure.

a sinking feeling washed over you as you proceeded along the grounds of the frozen kingdom, a lingering sense that something terrible had to have happened here. you wondered what.

whatever it was, you figured it must’ve been pretty bad, considering you were sure no one in the village knew this castle existed at all.

there was a tugging in your chest as you approached the breathtaking building that towered over your small figure. it was almost as though the building itself was calling to you in a way, like it was begging you to step foot inside.

you brushed it off as a mixture of excitement and your imagination.

pushing open the door, you gratefully rushed inside. you sighed in the sudden warmth, rubbing your arms frantically in hopes of warming yourself. you glanced around, taking in the enchanting sight before you. intricately carved pillars, cream coloured walls and a variety of strange looking trinkets littered the room.

you were broken out of your entrancement when the sound of cries broke through the eerie silence that filled the castle. you perked up, instantly recognizing the voice as your father’s. you followed the sound without question, your thoughts clouded and all sense of judgment out the door upon hearing the panic in his voice.

“father?” you called, your smile brightening as he came into view. “father! what happened? oh thank goodness you’re alright.” you squatted in front of him, eyes dancing over his face in search of severe injuries or anything of the sort.

“y/n?” he choked, forcing himself awake with harsh blinks. “y/n!” he suddenly jumped, though he looked anything but happy to see you. “you need to leave. now. before he sees you.” he whispered, urgently. you frowned, shaking your head.

“before who sees me? nevermind, it doesn’t matter. i won’t leave you. that’s nonsense!” you assured, eyes searching for anything to assist you in breaking your father free from the jail bars between you.

“you don’t understand, y/n. he’s not a man. he’s a-” philza tried, but you shushed him, waving him off. “he’s dangerous, y/n!” he raised his voice in frustration, and you finally looked at him, seriously.

“if he’s as dangerous as you say, i’m certainly not leaving you here with him.” you scoffed, continuing your search. you expected another retort, but received a dark chuckle instead.

“how noble of you.” a monotone voice hummed, stepping out from the shadows. you whirled around, determination set on your expression as you glanced at the outline of the mysterious man.

“let my father go.” you threatened, and his captor only laughed, humorlessly.

“your father,” he paused, emphasizing sarcasm on the word, “trespassed on my property uninvited. which, may i point out, you have also done.” he replied, nonchalantly. “i suggest you run along back home before i decide to make you cell mates with your dear-old-dad for the rest of your lives.”

turning on his heel, the mysterious man began to walk away, and in the heat of the moment, you did the only logical thing your brain could muster. “take me instead.” you rushed, catching the male’s attention.

“pardon me?” he turned, his voice filled with amusement. you felt your blood boil at his cockiness, scowling.

“you heard me. take me, let my father go free.” you stated, boldly. your father protested, but you simply ignored his presence for the time being.

“you clearly don’t know what you’re dealing with, child.” he shook his head, his devilish smirk barely visible through the darkness.

“i’m not a child!” you defended, and as he laughed at your response, you offered a smirk of your own, “show me what i’m dealing with, then.” you challenged, eliciting a scowl.

“fine, suit yourself.” he spat, finally stepping into the dim moonlight streaming in from the single window of the dungeon tower. your eyes widened, watching the light gently bounce off the tusks protruding from his bright pink flesh, a snout peeking out from a skull mask taken from an animal you couldn’t place.

“you’re a..” you breathed, and he rolled his eyes, as though he’d heard the same line several times before.

“a beast.” your father spat, and in turn received a glare from the monster before you. the beast then shrugged, a smirk lifting onto his lips once more.

“so, kid. you still want to trade places with your father, and stay here with me?” he taunted, and you swallowed as unnoticeably as you could, nodding firmly.

“i’m not a kid.” you muttered, annoyed. “if my father is left unharmed, i’ll stay with you without argument.” you agreed, and the beast seemed to ponder this, before nodding.

“very well.” he muttered, pulling out a large key and unlocking the cell. you instantly launched into your father’s open arms, hugging tightly.

“what have you done, y/n?” he muttered, and you shook your head sadly, offering the biggest smile you could muster. which admittedly, probably wasn’t very convincing.

“i saved you. that;s all that matters.” you whispered, finally pulling away from your father’s embrace when the beast cleared his throat. you stepped inside, allowing him to lock the door behind you.

“you, old man. get out.” the beast growled, and with one last parting gaze, your father begrudgingly left you behind. you listened as his footsteps grew distant, moving to the window to watch as he mounted carl, riding off into the night. you smiled, relieved to know he would be safe.

you heard fidgeting behind you, turning to watch as your fate was sealed with the turn of a lock. the pig-like man glared at you once more, before beginning to stalk off.

“wait!” you called, and he snarled. you took it as a notion of acknowledgment, so you brushed it off. “if i’m going to be staying here, can i at least know your name?” you asked, and he sighed, looking at you with an annoyed expression. you could’ve sworn there was something else behind his eyes, though.

“technoblade.” he mumbled, and didn’t leave you any time to respond, as he was long gone within moments. you tried out the name on your tongue, the name feeling foreign. as far as names went though, his seemed pretty fitting.

as the silence surrounded you, you leaned your back against the cool stone wall, allowing yourself to sink to the floor. it seemed as though your head had finally caught up with your heart, the sinking realization at what exactly you’d just done coming to light.

you were a prisoner.

not only that, you were a prisoner to a monstrous beast.

and no one, not even quackity in all his egotistical glory, could save you now.

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