Welcome to a story about a far off land, a dorky prince, and his inevitable descent down the tree of realizing your sexuality- while hitting every branch along the way down! Wrong Fairy Tale is a shounen ai story I've been writing for quite some time...it's only now that I've gained enough bravery to post it online! So please go easy on me. *sweats nervously*
The first chapter's a little slow - actually, the whole story's a little slow. I want to make this whole "falling in love" thing as authentic as possible, you know? However, prepare for many helpings of sweet sweet fluff in the future. Please enjoy! ^u^
~BlueSerpent

Chapter 1

"A King, a Prince, and a Witch"

Once upon a time, in a kingdom far, far away...there was a very upset king. The King stared disapprovingly at his only son, Prince David.

"This is your fifth divorce, David. Fifth!" He growled irritably. David flinched at the mighty roar of his father. "I-I know father, but Cheryl and I just didn't click!" He tried to explain.

The King sighed, pinching at the bridge of his nose. "You said the same thing about Gloria, your second wife!" He bellowed. The prince cringed again, eyes lowering to the grand red carpet beneath their feet. His golden hair swayed, shielding his sulky face in a curtain of yellow.

Taking his son's shoulder, the King led Prince David through the throne room, over to a gigantic mural of the King side by side with the Queen. David gazed up at the two with wide, green eyes. His father sighed.

"Look son, no king is complete without his queen, just as no prince is complete without his princess. Your mother would've said the same," He said, sadly admiring the portrait of his beautiful wife, who's life had been taken but three years ago.

David frowned. "I know, father... Next time will be for sure, I promise!" He tried. The King glared at his son. "Which is exactly what you said last time! And the time before that!"

"N-No, I have a plan! It'll work for sure!" David said rashly. Sure, the plan would work, but...

"It better! Because if you don't come back with a princess in the next three weeks...you won't be a prince anymore!" His father shouted, shoving him out of the throne room so fast that David didn't have anytime to reply.

Gulping, David turned to the inside of the palace he called home. "Oh, this'll work all right..." He muttered, before dashing through the hallways. The plan would definitely work.

xxXXxx

"Um... Prince? Are you sure you want to be out so late? I'm certain your father would disapprove of this..." The servant stammered, his black cloak fluttering in the night's wind as he tugged on David'd sleeve.

"Can it, Berry, I can do what I want. Besides, I'm technically following Dad's orders." David replied to his servant. He wrapped his own cloak tighter around him as a gust of ominous wind brushed through the woods, the branches of the trees clawing at them with frayed fingers.

The forest was barely lit under the crescent moon above. The only light guiding them was the glowing lantern Berry clutched tightly in his hands. The tree branches were like jagged knives silhouetted in the night, and every rustle in the undergrowth was an assassin's footstep. Berry gulped, eyes darting from shadow to shadow as he reached for his sword snug in its sheathe.

The trail they were following was almost indistinguishable, proving it to be old, and difficult to make out. David followed Berry through the darkness.

"But, Prince..."

"No buts, Berry! This is for the sake of us all. It's the only way this'll work," David sighed.

Berry was a reliable servant. He wouldn't tell a soul of what David did, unlike his other servants who would rat him out in a heartbeat. This was why the prince usually dragged him along on his adventurous endeavors, despite the poor servant's timid behavior.

Berry fell quiet. They walked in silence for what seemed like forever, before they reached their destination.

"Here it is," David breathed, staring in awe as a giant tree peeked through the thick foliage. It was unlike any of the other trees, for its trunk was way too fat, and from its branches hung multiple wind chimes that sang in the cool night breeze. A door in the tree's trunk caught their attention, and David hesitantly knocked on it.

The door creaked open, two glowing green eyes peered out at the two men. "Ah, well if it isn't Prince David and his little butler... I've been expecting you two for quite some time," A croaky female's voice greeted them. David gulped as the door reeled open, revealing a hunched over old woman who's hair was as white as the moon.

Her clothes were filthy, splattered with multiple stains of who-knows-what, and she looked up at David with knowing eyes. He gulped again.

"It's nice to meet you, Miss Witch," David said, bowing nervously. Berry glanced over at him in panic, before slightly bowing too. The witch's eyes narrowed like a cat's.

"Dears, just call me Gertrude. Come on in, now. I assume you need some of my assistance." She waved them inside, closing the door gently behind them. David's mouth dropped in horror as his entered.

The interior of the tree was way too big to have actually fit in it, and surprisingly modern. Way too modern. There were marble, tile floors, chandlers that looked way too expensive to belong in a tree, and a spiral staircase leading up into heaven's knows what! The witch cackled at their shocked expressions, and led them into a room that suspiciously looked exactly like a waiting room.

The old woman pointed to a row of chairs as they entered, where David politely refused to sit down. "N-No thanks," he smiled nervously, waving his hands. No way in hell am I letting my guard down, he thought to himself.

Gertrude shrugged, opening up a filing cabinet where she fingered through the rows of folders. Finally, she pulled out a bottle of red liquid, that she handed to the Prince.

"Uh, what do you-" Berry was cut off by a sharp glare from David. The witch chuckled again.

"This is what you are looking for, young Prince. A seeing potion. It'll reveal to you your red string of fate, which will lead you to the one person in the world that could ever be your soul mate. I believe that is why you are here, correct? To find your soul mate?" She stated, eyeing David as he observed the bubbly, red liquid sloshing around in the bottle.

His face reddened, but his tone remained stoic and cool. "Yes, thank you, Miss Gertrude. This is exactly what I've been searching for. Is there anyway I can ever repay you?" He thanked the witch, even going as far as to clutch her old, wrinkled hands in his. He suppressed the instinct to grimace at the dirty witch's appearance and feel. She smirked.

"Oh no no. I couldn't possibly ask for anything. I am a witch, after all. Take the potion as a gift, for the only repayment I could ask for is for you to find your one and only," She rasped. David blinked.

"Oh! Thank you so much! Without a doubt, you will be forever in my gratitude!" David bowed again, before the witch led the two men out of her house. David placed the bottle in his bag, not even letting Berry guard it for him. It was too precious to place in another's hands.

The two rode their horses back to the palace in silence, and David was happy.

xxXXxx

It was the next morning and David had already had his horse prepped for his journey. He refused all offers to go along with him with the same statement, "It's my journey, not ours." He'd tone down his clothes, hidden his mane of golden locks under a farmer's hat, and packed his bags with his supplies.

"It should only be about a week and a half's journey to get there," he'd told his father respectively. "And when I return, I won't be alone. For my dearest soul mate will be at my side, and she shall become a princess the moment we return."

Of course, his father was upset about David making deals with a witch, but the promise of a princess was enough to settle the deal. David set out at noon.

His dear mare, a dark gray thoroughbred, named Blue Moon, took the prince out of the palace grounds. As she settled into a gentle trot, David unveiled the seeing potion from within the depths of his bag. He uncapped it gently, before he consumed its contents.

The liquid tasted oddly like cherry. He waited. Nothing happened. David felt anger bubble up as minutes passed by. That old hag must've lied to me!

He considered turning back, until he looked down at his right hand. "My God!" He exclaimed, almost falling off the horse in his moment of spazziness. A red string, wrapped around his little finger in a neat bow, extended from his hand and out into the horizon. The string had no weight, and David's other hand passed right through it as he tried to touch it.

"So this must be the red string of fate," David smiled, feeling heat creep across his face. Every negative emotion dissipated into a warm, fluffy feeling deep inside of him.

His soul mate would be at the other end of the string. He couldn't help but fantasize at what she may be like. Even he couldn't think of someone suited enough to be his soul mate, after all the divorces he'd gone through!

David felt as if he'd seen and met almost every kind of woman, but the string proved his theory to be wrong. There was someone out there that was suited enough to be his soul mate, and he squealed in happiness!

The string continued on and on, for what seemed like forever. "This may take a while..." David sighed, but still looked hopefully at the string with bright green eyes. The horse and prince set off into a gallop, over the meadow, through towns, and after the string, where David's true love should be at the end.

Oh Dave, don't look so hopeful. Nothing will ever go right for you! And it's all because of ME! U-Uh, ahem. Sorry about that. Did you like the first chapter? Rate and Review below! Notice any grammatical mistakes, spelling errors, or something that just doesn't make sense- please let me know (preferably as nicely as possible)! Thanks for reading. Hopefully you're looking forward to the future chapters as much as I am! ;D

"The bottom line is that we never fall for the person we're supposed to."
~Jodi Picoult, My Sister's Keeper