Chapter Text
Once upon a time, there was a princess.
This princess had everything she could ever want, a majestic castle and servants who waited on her hand and foot. She had a life most people only dreamed of.
However, this princess was spoiled. Even though she had everything she could ever want, she still treated others around her with disdain.
One fateful night, a young peasant girl came to the castle in the middle of the storm. She had nothing to offer, her green dress covered in patches and her face streaked with dirt.
The peasant girl begged for the Princess to let her in for just one night, away from the cold rain. In return, she offered a single rose.
The spoiled princess scoffed at the offer, instead ordering the peasant girl to leave at once. The peasent girl asked once more, asking if the Princess had any compassion in her heart. Once again, the Princess refused and this time slammed the door in the peasent girl’s face.
However, all was not as it seemed. A blinding light burst the door open and the Peasent Girl changed into a beautiful Enchantress.
The Enchantress told The Princess that she must learn to care for others but her heart had turned rotten as an apple left in the sun. Thus, a lesson must be taught.
The Princess begged for forgiveness but it was far too late. The Enchantress cast a powerful curse on the entire castle, affecting all who lived in it.
The worst affected was The Princess. Her body shifted into a monstrous beast!
The Beast begged The Enchantress to tell her how the curse could be broken. The Enchantress pulled out the red rose and explained that the petals would fall off. The Beast had until her twenty-first birthday to find someone she could love and earn his love in return. If she could not find love, the curse would stay for the rest of her days.
As the years passed, The Beast fell into despair. She was ashamed of her ghastly form and the only contact she had with the outside world was a magic mirror. The Beast could always see others but they would never see her.
Eventually, the castle itself was reduced to a mere myth. The Beast completely gave up on ever breaking the curse.
For who would ever love a beast?
+
Phil had never particularly liked going to town.
Of course, it wasn’t full of crime or anything. It was small, always seeming packed with people. Especially right now, in the middle of the day. The center of it had stalls set up, selling everything from bread to jewelry.
No, the problem was the people themselves.
“I don’t understand why he likes those books so much. I mean, he’s one of the best fighters here!”
“Yeah, if he really focused he could be the richest man in town!”
Phil let out a small sigh as he walked by the two old men playing chess. He’d long since learned to ignore everyone’s gossip about how much better off he’d be if he just worked harder.
If he got his head out of these supposedly silly books about places far away.
He shook his head, continuing to read his book as he casually dodged carts and people. Even though he was skilled with a bow, it wasn’t like he wanted to make a life out of that. That was Techno’s thing, constantly fighting in tournaments and coming out on top.
To be frank, it sounded exhausting. The only reason he even fought in tournaments with Techno was so that he didn’t work himself to the bone.
“I’m sure he’d have suitresses lined up at his door if he wasn’t so-so,”
“So odd, with his head in the clouds?”
Like he said, he’d gotten used to it. Being the town oddball.
Sure it stung at times to hear the gossip but ignoring it was better than confronting anyone.
He finished the last page right as he arrived at the library. He didn’t even need to look up and check as he swung the door open, having long since memorized the route to the library.
“You finished it already Phil?”
“What can I say mate? It’s fascinating!”
“What was it about this time?” Eret said, taking the book as Phil went to the shelf to pick out another one.
“The desert mate! An entire sea of sand, with plants that can live without water!”
“Ah, that one. Yes, I’ve always wanted to keep a cactus in here,”
“Oh that would look nice. Maybe someday I can go and get you one?”
Phil hummed as he ran his fingers along the spines of the books, trying to find one he hadn’t read yet.
Ah, here was one!
“That one again?” Eret said with a chuckle. “You’ve read it at least five times!”
“I know but,” Phil sheepishly chuckled. “Well, it’s about the rainforest! Loads of animals, temples and the tallest trees around! How could I not be interested in it?”
“Well, if that’s good, why not keep it?”
“What? Nah Mate, I don’t need it that badly,”
“Nonsense, it’s clearly your favorite. Think of it as payback for being the only one to read the geography books,”
“Well, thanks mate!”
Phil walked out the door but then Eret poked his head out of the window.
“Oh and Dreams out and about. Might be looking for you so watch out,”
“Thanks Eret,” Phil said with a weary sigh and a roll of his eyes. He buried himself back into the book, drowning out the sounds of the town as he walked and read.
Hopefully, he wouldn’t run into Dream.
+
“Checkmate!”
“Damn, that was a good play,”
“You know I never go easy on anyone,”
“Yeah yeah,” Punz said, fishing out some coins and tossing them to Dream. Dream smirked, putting the coins in his pocket.
Another day, another game won.
“Well, look who’s in town,”
He saw a striped bucket hat in the crowd and no one else would wear something like that.
“Do you seriously think you can convince him? That oddball?”
“Well, it only makes sense,” Dream said, pulling out his sword and slashing the wooden post. “I mean, I’m the best in close quarters combat and he’s the best in long range! Imagine what we could do in tournaments together!”
“And you could rub it in Technos face?”
“Exactly!” Dream said, clapping Punz on the back.
“Now, let’s go find find him!”
+
Phil continued to make his way through town, dodging through the hustle and bustle as he read the book.
The temples in particularl were fascinating to him. Supposedly, they had traps but the treasure inside could make the begger into a noble.
“Good afternoon Phil!”
Well, fuck.
“I said, good afternoon Phil!”
Phil came to a stop as Dream and Punz stood in front of him.
“Good afternoon Dream,” Phil said with a small sigh. “You too Punz,”
“Got your nose stuck in a book again?” Dream said, snatching it out of Phil’s hands and flipping through it. “Do you still read these children’s stories? I mean, everyone knows these rainforests don’t actually exist,”
“Mate, that book is full of actual accounts by real people,”
“Must be lying then,” Dream said, carelessly tossing the book aside as Phil scrambled to catch it. “Anyways, there’s supposed to be a duos tournament later this week and I heard Techno was going to be out of town,”
“Yeah, he’s going to the one you couldn’t get into,”
Punz let out a snicker and then a grunt when Dream elbowed him in the stomach.
“Yes, that brute always has to beat me,” Dream said, still smiling despite gritting his teeth.
“Who knows?” Punz said with a shrug. “He could’ve cheated,”
“I’d appreciate it if you two would stop talking about my friend,”
“Yeah Punz, stop being rude,”
“You said shit too!”
“Besides, he’s not some mindless brute,” Phil said with a frown as the two continued to squabble. “He’s one of the smartest men I’ve-”
These words had very bad timing, seeing as there was a loud boom behind them and smoke billowing out of Techno’s window.
“…Well, he’s mostly smart,” Phil said, running off before he had to listen to the two jokers anymore.
+
“Mate, what the fuck did you do?”
Phil coughed as he waved his hand around the smoke. Techno stood in front of a blown up dummy, his googles pulled up to his forehead.
“Okay in hindsight a fireworks crossbow is way stronger than I anticipated,”
“Jesus Techno!”
“I mean, I could bring it to the tournament but someone would probably die,”
“That’s more like a definitely mate,”
They both looked over as the charred dummy’s head fell off with a thunk.
“It’d be fineeee,”
“Mate, no!” Phil said with a laugh at Techno’s sarcastic grin.
“Buncha nerds, can’t even take one firework to the face,” Techno said, causing Phil to wheeze with laughter.
Techno chuckled along with him but then Phil had a sudden thought.
“Hey Tech?” He said as they walked outside where Techno was loading his luggage in a cart. “Do you think I’m weird?”
“Bruh, you’re asking me?” Techno said with a huff. “If you’re weird then I’m downright bizarre,”
“Techno, I’m serious,” Phil said with a frown.
Techno turned to him, his eyes looking serious as he looked down at Phil.
“Phil, I’ve known you for years at this point and I don’t think you’re weird. Who do you think knows you better, me or the nerds back in town? And if you say them, I will be highly offended,”
“I suppose you do know me best,”
“Exactly,” Techno said with a nod and a small smile. “Besides, just a couple more wins and we can head out. See all that stuff you’ve read about,”
With a huff, Techno turned and tossed one last bag into the cart.
“Now, I don’t feel like bein even more sappy so I guess I’m heading off,”
“Guess you are,”
They both frowned and Phil gave Techno a side hug.
“It is a new city so,” Phil said. “You do know how to read a map right?”
“Phil, you wound me!” Techno said with an exaggerated frown, pulling out his map with a huff. “I’m practically a human compass!”
“…Mate it’s upside down,”
“The superior way to read a map,”
Phil sighed and facepalmed, taking the map and turning it around to the right way.
“Carl, you’re in charge of directions,” Phil said to the horse pulling the cart.
Carl let out a snort and flicked his tail.
“You all have no faith in me,” Techno said as he climbed up into the cart.
“Just don’t get lost mate,”
“Or you’ll never let me hear the end of it,”
“Nice we’re on the same terms,”
They both chuckled and Techno gently whipped the reins, causing Carl to start trotting off down the dirt road.
Phil stood at the door waving until he couldn’t see him anymore.
He let out a sigh as he went into the house. It was going to be lonely for a couple of days, like it always was when Techno went traveling. He could only pretend to talk to the birds for so long after all.
“I’ll have plenty of time for this I suppose,” he said as he sat down in a chair and opened up the book, losing himself to the world of words.
Maybe he could invite Eret over for lunch or something.
Yup, Phil thought that would be a pretty good idea.
As he fiddled with his emerald necklace, he felt himself nod off to sleep.