Chapter Text
Young Grimm Glynn stretched with a yawn, his ornate chair tipping back as he extended his long legs. He then sighed and placed his chin lazily on the palm of his gloved hand, his gaze shifting out the window of the study. His instructor had given him a history passage to study while he fetched his younger sister, but the prince could only study the familiar text so much before growing bored.
It was the story of the Great Old Ones who rose against humanity when they grew too powerful after harnessing the power of the Magic Stones. The tale was from a thousand years ago, when an immortal princess fought for the people and used the power of six Sealing Stones to seal away the great creatures. It was a fantastical story, but one that held nothing but truth. Proof lay in the Sealing Stones that remained in the world. One such stone was guarded within the Light Palace and was one of the reason’s for the kingdom’s growing prosperity. More evidence resided in the Rulers; people capable of wielding the power of Will that came from the Magic Stones. The ability to harness power from hope and despair; it was an intriguing ability that he often wished he possessed.
Grimm looked down at his book again, eyes wandering over the bland words. He frowned, shifting his attention to the grand book shelves that lined the walls. He knew almost every book tucked neatly on the wooden shelving. At least, the ones that interested him; namely the fairy tales. They were wonderous stories of friendship and adventure, something he secretly longed for. He didn’t know how many times he had read them, but somehow he never grew tired of them.
He glanced at the door, waiting a moment to see if Aesop would return at that very moment. A few heartbeats passed, and that was good enough for the prince.
Rising carefully from his chair, as to not make a sound, he bound over to the numerous books and hastily grabbed an armful. Creeping over to the door, he opened it a crack and peeked out. Satisfied at the empty hallway, he stepped out and silently jogged down the corridor. His shoes glided across the marble floor expertly, this not being the first time he snuck out of the palace.
It wasn’t long before he got out through a side door. He made sure to shut it behind him before darting through the courtyard. Grimm looked up to the clear sky as he moved, a smile plastered on his face. It was a perfect day to read beneath a tree and take a nap.
He was able to sneak his way out of the palace grounds, fairly easily he mused. Grimm never bothered with a disguise whenever he went into town; even if he needed one his appearance was much too obvious to hide. If his hair wasn’t a dead giveaway, with one half raven black and the other an egg white, then his heterochromia was an easy telling. It was a trait that seemed to pass through his family, eyes of a blue and a pink, almost red hue. It wasn’t something he minded in the slightest; after all he felt no need to hide his identity. The active king was a carefree one, with a large and kind heart. The people loved the royal family, and they loved their people in return.
After passing through the various streets and giving a polite hello to the passer-bys, he found his favourite reading tree. It was a large apple tree located in a park to the west of the town. It always seemed to bear fruit, and the large leaves provided the perfect amount of shade from the midday sun.
The prince sat down in the soft grass, careful to not dirty his colourful clothing, before cracking open a book and immediately diving in.
Eventually he found himself opening his eyes, which he hadn’t even realised he had closed, to see the sky stained orange and red. Grimm chuckled to himself and yawned. What an unexpectedly pleasant nap, he thought to himself.
He stretched his stiff limbs before rising to his feet while brushing off the grass blades from his coat. He honestly hadn’t meant to spend more than an hour or two lounging about, but it was too late to regret it now. The prince would just have to deal with the inevitable scolding Aesop surely had in store.
Not quite wanting that encounter so soon after such a peaceful nap, he decided to take the long route back. He walked through the town with a gentle smile on his face. The townspeople greeted him as they walked by, and he happily returned each friendly hello.
When he reached the plaza, however, the mood seemed to shift. He could hear hushed whispers and mothers dragging away their curious children from the large fountain. Intrigued, Grimm made his way over to the thinning crowd. In the center was a young woman with long, silvery blue hair. She wore intricate clothing, a similar garb to that of a priestess, with a veil covering most of her face.
“Please, heed my words! The magic of the stones has fallen into the hands of those that wish only for despair. Soon a crimson moon will rise, and with it a great calamity will befall the land!” The girl cried out, desperation clinging to every word. Her voice sounded hoarse, as if her pleas had filled the air for quite some time.
Grimm looked around to the people, curious as to why none seemed to believe her passionate words. Instead they whispered harshly, laying claim that the girl was simply mad. The young man cringed, almost embarrassed that he thought what she said could hold some truth. He shook it off, his curiosity overcoming his worry. He stepped forward, wanting to question the girl about her prophecy.
“Young master, there you are!” The prince quickly turned behind him to see his instructor bounding towards him.
He smiled sheepishly, “Oh, hey Aesop!”
As the older man approached, Grimm could see he was fuming. He laughed nervously.
“Young master,” his calm tone masked his irritation quite well, Grimm noted, “where have you been? I was finally able to get Lady Lumia out of bed only to find you had wandered off.”
“Ahah, sorry Aesop, but I can only study the same passage over and over until I grow bored…” He trailed off, realising how poor of an excuse that was.
Aesop obviously agreed with his internal thoughts, the man’s hands resting on his hips impatiently, “And yet you can read your fairy tales countless times with the same glee.” His eyes darted to the books clutched in Grimm’s arms. The scholar waited for a response. When he did not receive one, he huffed and turned to leave. “Come my lord, it’s getting late, and you should get inside before the cool air makes you ill.”
Grimm chuckled at the over worrying of his tutor. It was a trait most would find annoying, yet the prince found endearing. He followed obediently, though not without casting a glance back to the girl in blue. Despite the cloth covering her eyes, he could have sworn her gaze met his. For a moment, just a moment, it felt as if time slowed; as if something greater than he could have imagine had just set its course.
“Why does noone seem to believe her?” The words escaped his lips before he registered the thought. He had spoken so softly, as if in a trance.
Aesop, however, hadn’t seemed to notice the prince’s strange tone and spoke sharply, “The priestess is jealous of the power of the Sealing Stones. She’s trying to scare the people so that the king will abandon its power.”
“But...what if she speaks the truth?” Again he spoke without thought, as if the words were not said by him. What he said was not a lie, however. The thought of a crimson coloured moon bringing disaster sounded like the start of a fairy tale. Especially considering a moon had not hung in the sky for centuries.
Though the girl had walked away, Grimm’s eyes had not shifted. Not until he bumped into the back of his mentor, that is. Aesop had stopped, and turned to look the young prince in the eyes. He studied his student’s face, only to find that his curiosity was serious and not fueled by childish wonder.
Again the scholar sighed, this time in defeat. Grimm may have been lazy and far too carefree for one that was to rule a kingdom, but he was also quite wise for one his age. Despite even the King dismissing the priestess’ claims as nothing more than insane ramblings, Aesop couldn’t help but wonder if Grimm’s intuition was correct.
He turned back and continued walking toward the palace, “If you’re truly concerned, you should speak with your father. If the King will listen to anyone, it would be you and Lady Lumia.”
Grimm simply hummed in response, suddenly lost in thought. The King may have a kind heart, but he was also stubborn to a fault, a trait both royal children had inherited. The problem wouldn’t be whether the prince could convince his father; the trouble would be if he could change his mind.
The remainder of the walk back was in silence, both parties too lost in thought for conversation. By the time they reached the Light Palace, a thick cloud coverage consumed the already darkened night sky. Thankfully the ornate lamps had been lit, lighting the way to the front gates.
After wishing one another a pleasant night, Grimm made for his room. He would discuss the topic with his father in the morning, he decided. It was far too late to bring up such a conversation, and he certainly wouldn’t get anywhere doing so now.
It was then that Grimm realised just how quiet the corridor was. His footsteps echoed down the hall despite how softly he moved. The dim lanterns only barely lit the way, their flickering light reflecting on the floor, turning the usually white tiles a dark orange. This was far from the first time he had walked down this very hallway in the dark; numerous times had he lost track of time with his books in the library. But this time, for a reason he could not place, even the atmosphere felt dark and carried an eerie tone.
The clouds overhead shifted and with it everything became bathed in a strange light. The prince’s eyes widened and fear painfully struck his chest. Instead of the silvery light the stars usually granted, the palace was suddenly consumed in a sinister red.
Grimm didn’t make a sound. Didn’t breath. His head slowly turned toward the grand window. The clouds had parted, revealing an orb that shone with a brilliant crimson glow. Despite having only ever read about it in fairy tales, he knew that it could be nothing more than the moon from the priestess’ desperate warning.
“She was right…” The words came softly, inaudible even if another person had been near.
His body went rigid as a scream pierced the silence.
The prince had never been one for combat. In fact, any physical activity proved difficult for him. It was for that very reason that even he was shocked at his sudden burst of speed.
He raced down the corridor, his hefty cloak flapping wildly behind him from his frantic movement. Something was direly wrong, and in no way would the prince be able to help. But his feet carried him anyway, desperation and fear fueling his muscles.
He turned a corner and froze breathlessly. Before him was a sight straight out of a horror novel.
A strange, purplish creature loomed over what Grimm could only guess to be the remains of a soldier. It’s large, blood soaked fangs glistened in the moonlight as it grinned menacingly over its prey. Claws clicked on the marble floor as it repositioned its slender, arched body. It’s bat-like wings twitched and powerful hind legs tensed. It took a moment for the prince to register that the monster had spotted him and was aiming to attack.
Grimm desperately wanted to run, or even cry for help. But his legs refused to move and his breath remained caught in his throat. Fatigue already gripped his limbs and his lungs begged for the oxygen that fear prevented him from inhaling.
Instead the only thing he was able to do as the creature lunged was flinch and instinctively shut his eyes.
Rather than feeling the impact of hooked claws, he felt a rush of air and heard the sound of frantic footsteps. He opened his eyes in time to see a curtain of familiar black and white hair. Before he could say a word, the young girl’s sword was thrust into the monster’s body once. Twice. The third finally ending its life.
With a small ‘phew’ the girl stood up straight and flicked the blood off her blade. She turned around and, despite the situation, smirked mischievously, “Oh brother, what would you do without me?”
Grimm was silent for a moment before releasing a chuckle. Whether it was from Lumia’s strange sense of humour or his near brush of death, he didn’t know. Either way, he was alive, as was she. That was when realisation hit.
“Wh-where’s father?” He flinched sheepishly at his sister’s glare and blushed, “And, um, thank you.”
Lumia sighed and tutted teasingly. Her face suddenly hardened and her composure shifted completely, “I’m not sure. I was just on my way to find you and father. It’s a good thing I found you first, eh?” She winked with the last comment, her childish demeanor returning.
The prince couldn’t help but smile at that. He may have been her older brother, but she had always been the stronger of the two. What he had in intelligence and wisdom, she had in confidence and strength. The two could not have been more dissimilar, but it was obvious beyond appearance that they had a close sibling bond.
Grimm turned his attention back to the creature of whom was lying dead in a pool of sickish looking blood. Just behind it was the mangled corpse of the soldier from before, but he couldn’t bear to look. His stomach was not strong enough. Instead he forced himself to speak, but was unable to hide the fear shaking his voice, “What...was that thing?”
His sister’s eyes followed his. Her grip on the hilt of her rapier tightened and she gritted her teeth, “I don’t know. As soon as the clouds parted and revealed that… thing in the sky, the creatures flew through the windows and began attacking.”
The two siblings stood there for a moment, trying desperately to piece together what was happening. They could hear the distant sound of combat throughout the palace.
Lumia then looked up to her brother, brows creased with determination, “Let’s go find father. I know he’s an expert swordsman but...I’m still worried.”
Grimm nodded in wordless agreement. The few moments of calm had given him back control over his legs. He was still tired from his sprint, but the fatigue was manageable.
They started to make their way down the corridor before being cut off by the sudden crash of a window. Another of the hellish creatures had broke through and snarled with a bloodthirsty smile.
Instinctively Lumia rushed in front and held her sword in position to strike, “I won’t let you harm my brother, you monster!”
The creature tensed, but did not move. The inaction was puzzling for a moment until Grimm realised what it meant.
“Lumia get down!” Despite shouting the command, he grabbed his sister and brought her down to the floor with him before she could react. They hit the floor with an audible thud as a second creature swooped over where their heads had just been.
Both of them stared wide-eyed, completely defenseless on the floor. Grimm suddenly realised that while he saved them in the moment, they were still in just as much danger now with Lumia unable to counter. Instead, Grimm lifted himself onto his hands and knees and shielded his sister with his body. He wanted to give a command as she had, but words wouldn’t come to him. Instead kept his ground, his body rigid.
“My my, looks like you’re in a bit of trouble, no lie~”
A new voice suddenly broke the tension. The siblings look up to see a girl standing in the broken window, her form silhouetted against the crimson moon.
The creatures growled at the newcomer, unhappy that their easy hunt had been interrupted. They made to lunge at the girl, but she was gone in an instant. As suddenly as she vanished, she appeared in front of Grimm and Lumia. She turned her head and looked to them with playful glee, “Don’t worry Grimm, I’m here to save you, not a lie!”
The mention of his name made the prince flinch in surprise. He wanted to question it, but the girl had not forgotten about the fight at hand. Again she moved with blinding speed and slashed into one of the monsters with what Grimm assumed to be claws. The second one was quickly dispatched as well before it could even react to the slaughter of the first.
With the threat gone, the strange girl finally stood still long enough for him to get a good look.
Instantly, the prince felt a strange sense of familiarity. The girl was relatively short with black, wispy hair messily peaking out from under a red hood. She wore a bright red and white dress adorned by a large red bow on her chest with boots to match. Strangely enough, large, wolf-like ears protruded from the top of her head and a large, bushy tail swayed from under her dress. But what gave Grimm a sense of nostalgia was the red cape that hung from her shoulders.
“It can’t be…you’re-Ah!”
“Who the heck are you?” Grimm had been cut off by Lumia jumping to her feet, challenging the new girl while shoving her brother out of the way.
The prince quickly regained his balance and got up into a crouch, grabbing her arm with a shout, “Wait, Lumia stop! She’s not our enemy.”
Lumia looked back, eyebrows furrowed in confusion, “Brother, have you gone mad? Look at her!” She twisted her back and flicked out an accusing finger, “Everything about her screams suspicious!” The strange girl only responded with a giggle.
Grimm had to admit, the girl was strange. Even still, he shook his head and pleaded, “I know she’s not a villain, because I know who she is!”
“Wait, what? How?” Lumia asked, now thoroughly confused.
He looked over to the girl in red calmly as he picked himself off the floor, trying desperately to hide his excitement as he hoped his hunch was right, “You’re Little Red Riding Hood, aren’t you.”
The red girl’s grin broadened, “Yessir, that’s me!” She exclaimed with a wink.
“Wait wait, hold on,” Lumia waved her free hand before turning back to her brother, dumbfounded, “you’re telling me that girl is a character from one of those fairy tales you read?” The princess was practically shouting in disbelief.
“Er, well, yes?” The young man admittedly was having a hard time wrapping his head around it as well. Just earlier that day he had fallen asleep beneath a tree reading the very story this girl originated from. He had oft dreamed of his beloved fairy tales coming to life and befriending the characters within. Being an ill struck child, he had rarely left the palace grounds. His mother had read he and Lumia fairy tales, their stories taking him on adventures without having to leave the safety of his quarters. He always felt a strong connection to the stories, so much so that even when hearing one for the first time, he would feel as if he had read it a hundred times before. Back then he never thought much of it. But now, with Red Riding Hood herself standing before him, he started to believe there was more to it.
Grimm cleared his throat and spoke with timid confidence, “H-how did you get here? Why are you here?”
The girl in red giggled again, “Why, I’m here to tell you that you are the one that can save the kingdom, Grimm! And that’s not a lie~”
Red Riding Hood then stepped forward, reaching behind her as she did so. Lumia tensed her grip on her sword, slowly raising the blade and readying herself to strike. Her brother placed a calming hand on her shoulder and watched the wolf girl wordlessly.
She finally brought out her hands and held up an ornate book. It was strange, the likes of which Grimm had never seen before. The cover appeared to be an aged black leather with red patterns stained into the material. Its surface was embroidered with a dark gold that shone faintly in the dim red light. Even while shut it was obvious the pages were worn and used, stained yellow with age.
Raising the book closer, the girl in red smiled sincerely, “You, Prince Grimm, are the only one that can return hope to the land.”
Grimm stared at the book, hardly registering her claim. He was finally able to find the words to respond, albeit he spoke them with breathless wonder, “I can...return the hope?...How?”
Again Little Red smiled, “Why, with the power of Will of course! Your bond is strong with us fairy tales, so much so that you can use us with the power of hope!”
It was Lumia’s turn to speak as she shifted herself between the two, “Just what are you talking about? The only people capable of using the power of Will are Rulers, and my brother has never used magic in his life!” Again Lumia raised her sword, the tip hovering just inches from the girl’s face. “I won’t allow you to use my brother until you explain just what is going on!”
“Lady Lumia, Sir Grimm!” A familiar voice called from down the hall. All three looked over to its source to see Aesop running towards them. He looked disheveled, more so than usual, and utterly breathless, though otherwise fairly unharmed.
It took him a moment to reach them, and a moment more to catch his breath enough to speak, “I...have found...you two...thank goodness!”
Grimm couldn’t help but smirk at his tutor. He had always been a stressed odd ball, even during regular lessons.
Lumia reached forward with concern, “Um, hey Aesop, you alright?”
The elderly man responded by lifting his hand, asking for a moment more to breathe more precious oxygen. With a final huff, he stood up straight, composing himself.
“Worry not for me, Lady Lumia. We were able to ensure the King’s safety and so I just had to find the two of you as well.” Aesop sighed and brought his hand to his chest, his voice filled with relief, “I’m just glad the two of you are safe.”
The man seemed content until his gaze fell upon Red Riding Hood. It was obvious he had not seen her as he visibly jumped with a yelp at seeing the wolf girl. He quickly straightened himself and coughed before speaking, his voice shaking with nerves, “A-and who m-might you be?”
With a seemingly ever present smile, the girl chirped, “I am Little Red Riding Hood of course, tee-hee!”
“No,” Lumia shouted again, “you’re a lying little girl that’s trying to take my brother away!”
“Lumia, please,” Grimm raised a calming hand, attempting to soothe his sister, to no avail.
Instead she whipped around and jabbed her finger into his chest, “Don’t you ‘Lumia please’ me, brother! First a strange red orb thing appears in the sky, then we’re attacked by weird vampire creatures, and now some weird wolf girl from a book is saying you can save the kingdom? And you want me to calm down?” Her voice grew louder with every point, her finger roughly poking him as she did so, causing the prince to wince.
“Hey, I ain’t no liar missy!” Red retorted with an unfaltering expression. “Grimm really can use the hope of the fairy tales to save everyone, honest.”
Once again Lumia spun around to face the girl angrily, “I told you, Grimm isn’t a Ruler, he can’t use magic!”
“Ah, miss Lumia, what she says may indeed old some truth,” Aesop intervened calmly.
Both Grimm and Lumia turned to him with confused expressions, “Huh?”
“Well,” Aesop began thoughtfully, “Not all Rulers are born as such. There are many cases where a Ruler’s power is unlocked through the contact of a magical item or stone.”
“Well duh!” Red interrupted before he could explain more. The wolf girl bounded up to Grimm before Lumia could stop her, book still in hand. “Why do you think I brought out this grimoire?”
Once again she held it up to the prince, this time within his reach. For a moment, he simply stared at the dusty book. It seemed to carry a presence of some kind. It felt similar to the feeling he had whenever he read his fairy tales, as if the characters were right there beside him. The air around the book seemed to crackle with energy, and as he rose his hand a strange tingle numbed his finger tips. He thought he heard a voice call him, his sister perhaps, but he paid it no heed. His mind was entranced, his hand slowly reaching forward until his fingers brushed the book’s surface.
All at once he felt a gust of power, the impact causing him to gasp. His body felt as though it was struck by lightning, his very being suddenly charged with energy. It carried no pain, but rather the opposite. He felt empowered, filled with a strong sense of courage and bravery, as if he could take on all the evil in the world.
The sense of power flowed out of him and back into the book, but traces of the strange energy remained.
“Is this...magic?” His voice came out breathlessly. His eyes slowly raised from the book, now clutched in his hands. Both Lumia and Aesop stared at him in wordless shock. His sister had visibly calmed, her breath caught in her throat. Little Red, however, continued to hold her smile.
The girl looked back to the princess and stuck out her tongue teasingly, “See, I wasn’t lying!” She turned back to the prince with a toothy grin, “Now we can go and defeat Dracula!”
Breaking from her trance with a shake of her head, Lumia retorted, her voice breaking with shock, “Wait, Dracula? Who the heck is Dracula?”
Grimm frowned and answered, his voice still quiet, “I’ve read a story about him. He’s the lord of vampires...” The prince’s brows furrowed further at his own statement. Something about it felt...strange.
Any further thought was broken by Little Red hopping up and exclaiming, “That’s right! Boy, Grimm, you sure are smart. Now, we gotta leave quickly, or the whole kingdom will fall to his nightmares, no lie!”
“W-wait a sec!” Lumia held out her hand, her actions no longer fueled by anger, but rather concern. “Grimm can’t go alone! He only just got magic, and he’s never even fought before.”
The girl in red giggled and waved a hand, “Psht, alone? You silly, he’s got me to back him up, no lie!” She then brandished her large, clawed hands, as if to assert her point.
Lumia shook her head, “No way am I entrusting you with my brother. I’m coming too!”
At her claim, Aesop intervened, “Lady Lumia I know you’re a skilled swordswoman, but the coming battle will be that of great magic and peril. I’m afraid I cannot allow you to go; it’s simply far too dangerous for one that’s not a Ruler. Especially when you are still so young.” It was obvious Aesop found it difficult to say such words to the girl. Though it was true she was very talented with her blade, she was still only fourteen, and to put her in such danger without the aid of magic was too much to bear.
She looked as if she wanted to argue, but stopped herself. Slowly, she returned her sword to its sheath. Her hand lingered on the hilt, her grip trembling with frustration.
Grimm was about to give a comforting hand before his sister suddenly erupted. With a shout she held up a fist to the wolf girl, her face twisting with what Grimm could only make out as extreme determination, “Fine! But you had better return my brother in one piece or I’ll find my own magic book, hunt you down, and beat you with it!” She shouted, her voice cracking with emotion. She turned to Grimm, her eyes welling with tears, “And you’d better come back brother...or else I’ll…I’ll-”
She couldn’t bring herself to finish her sentence, her body trembling too much. Grimm smiled and embrace his emotional sister. He rested his face on the top of her head, his hand petting her hair soothingly, “Don’t worry, I’ll come back to you.”
“Promise?” Her voice came out weakly, muffled from Grimm’s cloak.
He didn’t respond right away. Part of him desperately wanted to promise her his safe return; to assure her everything would be fine in the end and they could continue their happy lives. But another part of him, deep down, sneered at him, telling him he was weak and would never make it passed the palace grounds.
Grimm sighed through his nose and hugged his sister tighter, “I promise, I’ll do my best to return safely.”
Lumia obviously wasn’t satisfied with his response, but knew it would be the best she’d receive. She gripped him tighter, holding their embrace for just a moment longer, before reluctantly releasing him.
He smiled down at her, his hands sitting lightly on her shoulders, “I’m trusting you with father, alright?”
At that she returned his smile and quickly brushed away her tears. She brought up her hands and clenched them into fists, pumping them confidently, “You got it!”
The prince chuckled at her enthusiasm, then turned his attention to his tutor, “And I can trust you to take care of Lumia, yes?”
Overcome with emotion, in almost a comical way Grimm mused, Aesop saluted, responding after a harsh sniffle, “You can trust in me, my prince!”
Grimm smiled and nodded. His face hardened with determination as he turned back to the still grinning girl, “Alright, let’s go.”
The girl rose a fist and beamed, “Oh finally!”
With a final farewell, the four separated their ways. Grimm and the wolf girl raced down the halls and towards the exit. The prince decided it be best to leave through the side door, not wanting to attract attention to allow them a swift escape. While he desperately wanted to assist the soldiers, remaining much longer may cause more harm than good; especially if he were to meet his demise before even leaving the palace grounds.
They were able to get outside without incident. The usually green fields of the courtyard were bathed in the sinister crimson light of the hanging moon. Grimm had to wonder if the sun would even rise, despite the night only just beginning.
The two snuck through the greenery and made way for the arch leading out to the west side of town. The sound of clashing steel filled the air, making it difficult for the prince to keep moving. He knew it was the smart thing to do, but guilt weighed heavily in the pit of his stomach.
Eventually they reached town, and much to Grimm’s dismay the chaos did not lessen. Soldiers fought off the creatures in the streets as the innocent townspeople ran for their lives. The urge to help grew until it physically hurt him to continue moving forward.
A high pitched scream made him stop in his tracks. He twisted around to see a small group of children in a desperate huddle. One of the demonic creatures loomed over them, dragging its tongue over fangs far too large for its twisted mouth.
Grimm gritted his teeth before running towards them. He held himself back this far, but he would not allow children to die so he could escape unscathed.
“Stay away from those children!” The words came out in a furious shout.
The children looked over to him with a start. One of them immediately recognized him and exclaimed with tears in their eyes, “I-it’s prince Grimm!”
Grimm stopped, the demon’s attention now solely on him. It was only then that he realised he only received the ability to fight just moments before, and didn’t know how to use said power. He pulled out the grimoire anyway and focused. If he remained calm, perhaps the magic would come to him...somehow.
He remembered Little Red telling him of his power; how he had the ability to use the hope of his fairy tales to fight the darkness. He closed his eyes and focused on remembering a fairy tale; any fairy tale that could help.
He then recalled the fairy tale that always made him feel brave. The one that taught him that you’re never too young, never too small, to fight back. The words suddenly came to him. His eyes snapped open and his hand aggressively waved over the blue glow spitting out from the flipping pages of the book in his grip, “Come to my side and conquer the darkness before me; Peter Pan and Tinkerbell!”
The pages turned wildly in response, the glow growing brighter until it was almost blinding. A stream of white light swirled around him, carrying various words and letters that flew by too fast to distinguish.
From the light burst forth two bodies; one a young boy, and the other a girl no larger than his open palm. It took Grimm a moment to realise that they were the characters he had just summoned. Both Peter Pan and Tinkerbell stood before him, ready to battle.
It only took a second for Grimm to break from his shock. He rose his hand and yelled a command, “Peter, Tinkerbell, vanquish the nightmare!”
“You got it Grimm!” Peter responded unexpectedly, having turned to shoot a wink before charging forward. His feet glided across the tiled ground as he landed a powerful kick, sending the creature flying skyward.
“I’ll finish him off!” Tinkerbell lept from Peter’s shoulder and hovered in the air. She rose her tiny arms, collecting a mass of light in her palms before firing the the blinding magic. It hit directly, causing the monster to cry out before bursting in a shimmer of sparkling dust.
The tiny girl fluttered down with a giggle, her and the boy sharing a small high five with a laugh.
Grimm couldn’t help but simply stand there, gawking. He knew Little Red had told him his power derived from that of the fairy tales, but never in his life did he imagine he could breath life into the characters he loved.
“Prince Grimm, look out!”
He snapped out of his daze at Tinkerbell’s outburst just in time to turn and see the oncoming attack from another creature.
Before the extended claws could reach their intended prey, a red blur shot in from the side and kicked the creature away with an audible ‘crack’.
Red Riding Hood brushed herself off before grinning up to Grimm, “Heheh, you’re not very good at fighting, are you?”
Again the prince was left speechless. He then sighed in defeat, “Well, I only became capable of combat a few moments prior to this.”
“Heheh, awe, that’s no excuse~” The girl winked, then turned around and skipped away, speaking with a sing-song voice, “Come on then, time to go!”
Grimm watched her for a moment before turning back to check on the children. He smiled in relief to see that a couple of soldiers had noticed them and came to their aid. One of them spotted the prince and waved with assurance.
He nodded in gratitude before running after Little Red. Quickly catching up with her, they made haste for the exit. Even after leaving through the small side gate they continued running.
Eventually Grimm had to stop, his lack of endurance harshly catching up to him. His lungs burned, crying for air, while his legs felt flimsy and unstable. He rested against the trunk of a tree, his body trembling with fatigue.
Silence engulfed them, the only sound coming from the now distant town and Grimm’s heavy breathing.
Little Red watched him regain himself, her ever present smile still on her lips. She leaned against a tree, her voice holding a mischievous tone, “Y’know, you’d be far less tired if you dispelled your resonators, no lie.”
“Wha?” Grimm, still breathless, looked up to her, then over his shoulder. There, floating just inches above the ground, was Peter and Tinkerbell. They gave him shrug and a look of guilt, as if to apologize for something.
The prince let out a frustrated groan and lowered his head, “Please, now that we’re out of danger, can you explain this...this magic?”
At his request, the strange girl giggled again, the action frustrating him further. Grimm was not one to get angry easily, but the girl’s lax attitude and lack of information was testing his final nerve.
“Ah, um, I can explain it, if you’d like.” It was Tinkerbell to speak. Her voice was soft and gentle, no longer energized by the hype of battle.
Thankful for the offer, Grimm straightened himself and looked to her with a grateful smile, “Please do.”
The girl nodded, then cleared her throat before speaking proudly, “Prince Grimm, you have unlocked your magic power as a Ruler. It’s an ability that connects you and us fairy tales through something stronger than the already close bond we naturally share.” The girl smiled at that. She then continued, “With that power you can summon us as resonators; beings projected by your Will to aid you in combat. What she,” Tinkerbell nodded toward Little Red, “meant is that holding a resonator out takes a constant supply of magic. Considering your lack of, um, physical capabilities, holding us out while running must be quite draining.”
Grimm nodded understandingly, “Thank you, I appreciate the advice.” He then turned his attention to Little Red, who stood with a playful smile. He gave her an exasperated look, “Anything you care to add?”
The girl giggled and shrugged, “No sir, only that we should start moving, and that’s no lie~”
The prince’s frown deepened. At first, he had been more than willing to follow her lead. Perhaps it had been the fear or adrenaline that caused him to so readily listen. Even still, he didn’t feel as if she was lying. She had given him the grimoire that unlocked his power after all. But the fact that she constantly felt the need to reassure him that she told no lies rose suspicion. Perhaps it was simply a strange verbal habit. Many people he had met would have words or sounds sprinkled into their dialect as a personal habit. But this was different, for obvious reasons.
Grimm sighed. No matter the case, it was of little concern at the moment. The threat at hand was the demonic one; Dracula. For the sake of his people, he had to focus on that threat first. The strange girl and her strange words would have to wait.
Finally, the prince had regained enough strength to stand on his own. He lifted his weight off the tree and brushed off the dirt from his cloak. Sighing in an attempt to calm his nerves, his gaze turned to the dark forest before him, “So...where are we going exactly?” he asked no one in particular.
The girl in red skipped up beside him and pointed down an eerie path, “First we need to get to the Forest of Darkness and rescue Pandora, no lie!”
Grimm looked to her with a cocked eyebrow, “Pandora? Who’s that?”
Little Red grinned, “She’s the girl with the box of hope! When you and her combine your Will, surely you will be able to defeat Dracula!”
“Uh-huh…” The prince was skeptical, but had no other choice. He would have to follow her lead until Dracula was defeated. It didn’t mean he would blindly trust her, however.
After giving his thanks, Grimm dispelled his summons and returned the two characters to their stories. He was still amazed he was capable of such a feat and made a mental note to write a list of fairy tales that could help later.
The two walked down the path in relative silence. Being his first time leaving the safety of the Light Palace town, Grimm couldn’t help but let his eyes wander. The forest they had entered was dark green and dense, the red moonlight hardly piercing the canopy above. He had to admit, he was grateful for its light. Without the crimson moon hanging in the sky, all they would have would be the light from the stars. After all, their world had not had a moon within human memory.
Eventually the moon had set and the sun began to rise. Even after the sun had risen, the sky held a tint of red; an ever present reminder of what was to come when it set once more. When the moon was fully out of sight, Grimm noticed Little Red’s appearance changed. Her hair had grown longer, turning from black to a pleasant amber. It had even braided itself when he wasn’t looking; or she had done so herself at an inhuman speed. Her red dress and cape remained, as did her animalistic features. She had a less intense appearance, however, and felt more like the fairy tale character Grimm had always imagined. Yet he couldn’t shake the strange feeling that she wasn’t quite who she seemed.
His thoughts were interrupted as he stifled a yawn. It occurred to him that he had not slept, and that he had been walking whilst lost in thought the entire night. Fatigue began to weigh on his eyelids as he yawned again.
“We should probably rest; the day will be the only safe time to sleep, no lie~” The girl chirped in a sing-song voice.
Shame her personality hasn’t become as pleasant as her appearance, Grimm mused. He had to agree nonetheless. Ever since the crimson moon had hid itself behind the horizon, not a single nightmare had shown itself. Even the atmosphere felt different and no longer held a foreboding feeling.
They quickly found a small opening within a cluster of trees to rest. The ground was naturally lined with leaves and grass. It wasn’t quite like his bed at home, but it was better than the hard dirt.
Grimm offered to take the first watch, but the girl in red assured him that she didn’t need to sleep. She was a fairy tale after all; a being of magic, rather than a human. She just so happened to hold the power of a Ruler herself, which was why she didn’t need to be summoned from her story to exist in the real world. Yet another reason to hold suspicion, the prince thought to himself.
The day seemed to pass quickly. Almost as soon as Grimm closed his eyes, Little Red was shaking him awake to continue their journey. The moon had risen once more, and with it the girl’s intimidating appearance returned.
Along the road they encountered various creatures, each as menacing as the last. Grimm considered it good practice. He summoned fairy tales of all kinds; from Rapunzel to the Pied Piper, and even characters like Romeo and Juliet. He found that some fairy tales did not heed his call, for Snow White nor Cinderella would emerge from the book. Little Red said they had likely been turned into nightmares by Dracula, and would not come to him unless he defeated him first.
Their journey continued for a number of weeks. Grimm would rest during the day under the watchful eye of the wolf girl before the two continued under the light of the crimson moon. They met opposition, but each time won with relative ease. The prince had gotten skilled in his magic, discovering he was capable of a wide range of spells beyond just his summons. He could create many things from great bolts of lightning to torrents of water, or even cut up an enemy with a concentrated wind storm. Little Red expressed how impressed she was at his elemental range, for most Rulers only held great skill in one or two attributes. She herself was linked to fire and, by extension, electricity. Her razor sharp claws allowed her to fight without reliance on magic, though when she did cast a spell its effects were devastating.
Many days and nights passed before the two arrived in a town. They had passed through a great number of towns beforehand, but this one felt strange. As the two walked down the aged cobble stone street, the townspeople whispered and stared. Grimm knew the two of them were naturally a strange sight, but the tone felt different. It was not harsh words or anything sinister. It felt as if they were afraid. But not fear towards them, rather, something else that was unseen to them.
Finally, one of the townspeople broke from the crowd. They were a fairly young person with modest clothes and slick brown hair. They bowed before looking at Grimm with tired blue eyes, “We were expecting you, Prince Grimm. Please, follow me.” They spoke with a hushed voice that was barely audible. With an unsteady turn, they began walking towards a dark hut tucked to the side of the village.
Grimm and Little Red looked at each other before the girl shrugged with a grin and followed their guide. Sighing, the prince followed.
They walked in relative silence until Little Red hummed with recollection, “Ohh, I know this place! Yessir, it’s the town with the famous diviner guy that lives near the Forest of Darkness, no lie~”
“Famous diviner?” Grimm asked puzzled, “I’ve never heard of such a person.”
She giggled, “How funny! He’s famous for giving ominous predictions that always come true. He never lies, no sir! I say that sounds pretty fishy though, don’t you think?”
“You’re one to talk,” he mumbled under his breath. Grimm then looked back ahead to the child guiding them, then toward the small eerie hut that drew ever closer.
He frowned, his hand slowly reaching for the book tied to his hip, “I’m not sure about this, if I’m honest. We should be cautious.”
Little Red nodded in agreement, though her smile made it feel as if she wasn’t taking things seriously. Grimm had to wonder if she ever did.
They reached the hut, and without a word the child pulled back the curtain that led inside. A waft of air brushed passed their cheeks, carrying the smell of old books and incense.
The wolf girl and prince peeked their heads through the entrance before slowly creeping inside. Just a few paces away sat the diviner, though his appearance did not match that of what Grimm was expecting.
The old man sat before them on a throne of cloth and snakes carved from darkened wood with one leg tucked beneath the other. A cloth was wrapped around his head, covering his stringy black hair and draping down over his shoulders and down his back. He wore no shirt and his skin was brown like aged parchment. His ribs were clearly visible and his arms and legs were scrawny with no visible muscle. It looked as though he had not eaten, nor seen sunlight in decades.
What was most disturbing of all were his eyes. They were white and pupiless, yet Grimm could still feel his disturbing gaze piercing right through him. A shiver rippled through his body under his stare.
Without a word, the diviner lowered his head to look down at the book sitting in his lap. He lifted a boney hand and opened the cover, then began flipping through the pages by just brushing his fingers on the edges.
When he reached the desired page, he lowered a finger and contemplated the words before him. After a moment, he hummed in thought before raising his head to look at his two guests. He spoke with a low, careful voice, “I see, so I was in slight error...Tell me, girl, who might you be? Or do you even know?”
Little Red laughed and jerked a thumb to her chest, “Why I’m Little Red Riding Hood, silly! I figured my story was famous enough that introductions were of no need. Can you not see my cute little red hood?” She twirled around on the spot, her red cape swirling with her sudden movement.
The diviner stared at her a moment with an unreadable expression, “I see.” His voice was slow and careful with a heavy tone, one that sent a chill down Grimm’s spine.
He then slowly turned his gaze to the prince, “Is it I you wish a fortune from?”
Grimm thought for a moment, highly unsure of the situation. The man before him gave no sign of malice; in truth he gave no sign of anything. The prince was usually quite talented at reading people, but the diviner before him was a blank page. The state of the town and its people didn’t help, it looked as though they suffered nothing but misfortune. But who was to say that was the fault of the diviner? Perhaps he was simply a messenger of misfortune who just so happened to have a sinister air about him. And perhaps Grimm’s sense of danger had finally numbed out from the constant battling the journey threw at him.
Nevertheless, the prince nodded wordlessly.
Once again the diviner looked down to his book. His finger traced along the words as he read them aloud with his deep, monotone voice, “From here, you will enter the Forest of Darkness in search of a girl by the name of Pandora. With her power combined with your own, you will surely vanquish Dracula. Whether or not you believe me, young prince, is up to you.”
He then shut his book, closed his eyes, and exhaled without another word.
It was only then that Grimm realised how tense his body had become. He released the breath he was unknowingly holding as he lowered his stiff shoulders and lessened his death grip on his book. The magic power that had surrounded the diviner as he spoke was powerful, far more powerful than anything they had encountered thus far.
“Hey wow, he said exactly what I’ve been saying! Looks like his fortune really is no lie~” The girl cheered.
“I’m not willing to entrust my future to a single fortune.” Especially not one from a man like him, “Either way, we should hurry onward.” Grimm tried not to let his voice give away how uneasy he felt, but couldn’t stop his words from sounding rushed. He could feel a growing presence from outside the hut and could only assume the townspeople had gathered closer.
“Good point! No matter what, we have to go through that forest anyway to reach Dracula. So, let’s get going!” Little Red spoke to the strange man with a childish wave, “See ya later Mr Diviner~” then turned to leave with Grimm following close behind.
Just as he had thought, a large crowd had formed around the hut. As soon as they exited a wave of murmurs broke out amongst them. The child that had guided them stared at them with wide-eyed shock, “You receive...a good fortune?...”
Their words seemed to echo the crowd’s thoughts. The people spoke louder, voicing their opinions to one another.
“But the diviner never gives fortunes that bring good…”
“Do you think he was tricking them?”
“But the diviner never lies, his fortunes always come true!”
“Perhaps...Perhaps the prince truly can save us?”
The air remained heavy, their slowly growing optimism still held down by their unfortunate past experiences. Grimm began to shift uncomfortably from the mixed feelings; the ones that did not speak simply stared at him, furthering his discomfort.
He leaned down to the wolf girl and whispered, “We should leave. Now.”
The girl nodded in wordless agreement. She grabbed his hand and dragged him through the crowd with a grin, “Outta the way!”
Grimm had hoped to have gotten out discretely, but supposed, with a defeated sigh, that this would do just as well.
They quickly escaped the town and continued on their way. The moon had set and the sunlight peeked through the dense foliage. Grimm decided it would be best to rest before entering the dark forest.
The pair found a mossy opening in a thick of tree roots, the makeshift cave large enough for both of them. Grimm laid down to rest, but sleep did not come easy. Not that it ever did.
It was always the same thoughts that clouded his mind. They had been traveling for who knew how long; weeks? A few months perhaps? Time was difficult to keep track of when one constantly traveled through the forest at night. Grimm could hardly believe the forest itself was large enough for such a long journey, but here they were. It hardly felt like he had accomplished much. There was an ever present nagging pull in his chest, one reminding him that the longer they took, the more his people suffered. He trusted his sister, Lumia, to protect the palace and people with the soldiers, he really did. But he was her older brother, and her safety being unknown to him made him anxious. His sister, father, the state of his kingdom; all these unknown factors weighed heavy on his heart. But he had to hold onto the hope that they could make it, that everything would end alright. That was the entire reason he was on this journey.
“Hey, Grimm? You should really get some rest. We’re entering the Forest of Darkness tomorrow, and it won’t be easy to rescue Pandora, no lie,” She gave him a warm, comforting smile. Grimm had come to realise her personality seemed to alter greatly when the moon wasn’t hanging in the sky. While he still didn’t trust her, he was glad that, when he was at his weakest, the form she took was like the Red Riding Hood he had loved since childhood. Her smile was kind and her eyes soft, allowing him to close his eyes and finally let sleep wash over him.