Chapter Text
Once upon a time, there was a country by the name of Historia. This land was populated by the legendary figures that one might know from ‘fairytales’. The people in these tales live their stories, then pass on the torch to their children, so that their stories may continue on and be retold forever. So it has been for thousands of years.
In order to learn their parts in their stories, the children of these famous stories are sent to a magical school, Storybook University. Here they will follow in their parent’s footsteps, learn the ways of their tales, and never let the legends die out.
At least, that is the intention.
This is where our story begins, on the day the new students move into Storybook University.
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The sun was bright and beautiful, like something out of an illustration, illuminating the large white castle that sat proudly atop a hill. The weather around it was carefully controlled for classes, and today was no exception. Sunny and beautiful was the forecast for today’s orientation.
Students were flooding into the school’s wide double front doors, coming from kingdoms all across the land, whether it be by carriage, by boat, or even simply teleporting themselves to the entrance. Move-in day was a crowded affair, and the hallways to the dorms were filled to the brim. School attendants waited with carts to assist students, though some had servants carrying in their things instead, while others used magic to elevate their luggage above the crowds.
In all directions, the ground was incredibly busy, likely why two golden figures swirled down from the clouds above instead. They trickled out of the sky before taking form, a man and young girl, before hopping weightlessly into an open window.
Where their feet brushed the ground, golden dust from nowhere kicked up, and their hair never sat all the way on their shoulders. Instead the tips seemed to always be floating just slightly above. The same sand seemed to be present in both their eyes and each had the reminiscent features of a father and his daughter.
“Now I have a lot of work to do in the next time zone, but I’ll be back before the student mixer starts so I can introduce you to The Godmother and say my goodbyes.” The Sandman said to his daughter as he waved a hand, making several trunks and boxes appear from dust. He was barely looking up from the wide hand iMirror he held. “I’ll have to be quick though, Sandra, you know how it is, a-”
“A dreamer never sleeps, I remember dad.” Sandra finished the sentence, smiling affectionately.
“Oh look at you! Already living up to the family motto, I’m so proud.” The Sandman said, pinching her cheek, “Now remember, I know you will have schoolwork to work on, but I still expect you to keep up with your internship in the family business by sending sweet dreams to your fellow students. You must keep your powers going, Sandra, I expect you to take on the family business one day. I’ll be sure to remind everyone to ask you for dreams when I introduce you tonight.”
Sandra swallowed uncomfortably, “Wouldn’t it be better if I introduced myself?” She leaned her head down to try and meet his eyes around the mirror device. “I- I mean- not that I don’t want you here, dad, it's just that I… I kind of feel like a circus act the way you show me off to people?” Despite her attempts, he seemed oblivious to his daughter speaking to him. “Dad? Dad!”
The Sandman mumbled something under his breath and his eyebrow furrowed before he tucked the mirror away. “Sorry sweetie I have to go, it’s time for the other side of the world to go to sleep-”
“But dad-”
He was already making his way to the window again. “I’ll be back later for the mixer!”
“Dad I-”
“I love you too sweetie! See you later!” The Sandman said, before hopping on a suddenly-materializing, white cloud and floating off towards the horizon.
Sandra sighed. As she plopped down on her bed a small puff of magic sand floated into the air (a side effect of her great and important lineage) and her golden hair trickled the magical dust off of its ends. One might think the gritty dust in everything was annoying, but it was, in fact, not very physical to the touch unless she wanted it to be. Once she was more experienced with using her powers, she could even keep it from gathering in the corners of all her clothes.
Yawning, she looked around the bare bones, plain dorm room. It was a nice room, bigger than the one she was used to with sturdy stone walls and rich wood flooring.
“I should probably unpack…” She said to herself, and felt her eyelids droop. “Or… I could nap.” Summoning her pillow towards her out of one of the boxes with a wind full of sand, she tucked it under her ear and curled up happily. Who needed sheets? “Nap it is, curse you insomnia….”
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Two stories below, the crowd of students moving in had quelled considerably since the early morning, leaving only the stragglers to move in.
A tall young man was carrying his two full suitcases in each hand. Both were easily his same weight and size but he barely struggled, only pausing once or twice to adjust them in his arms as they were quite bulky. He entered the dormitory tower of the ornate castle-turned-school and frowned halfway up. The staircases were blocked by many men trying to carry up large boxes and pieces of furniture.
“Woah, someone must be rich!” A voice from behind him said, its source being another tall boy, equally as broad as the first and similar enough in face that he could only be his brother. “I hope it’s a girl, a princess maybe. Dad would be proud if we snatched her up, eh, Gabriel?” He grinned.
Gabriel rolled his eyes and shook his head, “Gavin, that shouldn’t be your first thought.”
“Haha, jokes on you, I barely even thought about it!” Gavin beamed.
“That much is clear….” His brother sighed.
Suddenly a man’s voice called out in distress, causing Gabriel to whip his head around towards the staircase. One of the servants stumbled backwards down a couple steps, struggling to hold up a large box, and Gabriel immediately dropped his own load to catch the stranger’s. He easily caught the man around the waist with one arm and the large box with another. “Oh wow, this is heavy! Let me carry this for you.” He said, hoisting the box up with one hand. “Where should I take it?” The old man pointed up to the top of the staircase, where the owner of all of the luggage was finally visible.
Leaning against the railing at the top of the stairwell was a beautiful woman. Gabriel didn’t notice himself staring, somewhat starstruck by her curly golden hair and vibrant brown eyes. Despite being fairly short, the men at her command regarded her with much respect and reverence. She, meanwhile, seemed either oblivious or uninterested in the people carrying her things
Gabriel wondered if she was royalty. She was definitely nobility at the very least, judging by her rich purple gown and expensive jewelry. He straightened up a little, trying to slow his heartbeat. He could practically hear his dad telling him what he should do, how he should act. Shoulders back, look down your nose at people. Nobody’s better than Us! He shook his head, his father wasn’t here, he had the freedom to do what he wanted.
Gavin interrupted his thought process, “Move it loverboy- go pick a wedding date.”
“Gavin!” Gabriel started to reply, but his brother shoved him forward and Gabriel started to stumble up the stairs. He hurried up behind the mover men before stopping in front of the girl. He placed the box down in front of her and adjusted his glasses, “Sorry- to um, sorry I- here’s your box...” he stammered.
"Who are you?" The girl asked, glancing up from her mirror before snapping it shut and tucking it back in her corset.
“I’m um, Gabe-”
"Never mind, I don't care. I'm up on the third floor, dorm 306." she smiled sweetly, her brown eyes turning up. "Thank you so much for your help!" Up close, there were little flecks of gold in her eyes, and she had a dimple on one cheek. Gabriel’s chest fluttered and he felt his cheeks grow warm.
A new voice called out from down the hallway, snarky and scathing. “She’s playing you for the fool, man!”
The girl called back in the same scathing tone, “Nobody asked you, Auden!” It was such a sharp change from her sugar from before, that it snapped Gabriel out of his daze.
Glancing back down and the boxes, he shrugged and followed the instructions, carrying it down the hallway and giving the box to the attendant at the door. His brother caught up and opened his mouth to tease him, but Gabriel held his hand up. “Please don’t, Gavin, I’m just helping out…”
His brother let out a bark of a laugh, “Helping? Please, you’re practically groveling at her feet!”
Gabriel sighed and started walking back down the hallway, “Come on I wasn’t groveling!” He insisted, “Hey, you remember what dad said before I left,” he then went into an impressively accurate impression of their father, lowering his voice to an obnoxious boom. “Put yourself out there and talk to a woman for once! Eat eggs every morning! Stay away from literature!” He waved his fists back and forth comically.
“Yeah? And? You’ve already cut egg consump-“ He stops, unable to quite get the word out. “Well, you only ate half the eggs dad says we’re supposed to, and I know sure as the sky is blue, that you haven’t been stayin’ away from books at all.”
"Literature is one of the greatest gifts the world has ever produced." The pretty girl said as she walked past them and to her own door, briefly making eye contact with Gabriel. "An art piece's value is indeterminable, and books are no exception." She held it open as the men were still bringing in the last of her boxes of clothes and smiled.
Gavin throws up his hands in mock exasperation. “Sounds like you two are destined to be together then.”
Gabriel blushed bright red and stared at the floor, though the girl didn’t seem phased. "I don't believe in destiny, unless it includes me with the crown on my head and the world at my command."
Gavin smirked at his little brother and elbowed his side. “Dazzle her with that big brain of yours, yeah?” He winked and left them alone, walking down to grab the rest of their luggage.
The girl’s bright smile showed itself once again. "You’re a student, right? I didn't catch your name."
Noting in his mind to get back at Gavin for this later, he answered quickly, “I- um- I’m Gabriel. Of the Gastons.” He rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, “And I- what’s your name?” He asked, holding out his hand.
"Precious Charming. Princess Precious Charming." The girl said, offering her hand to him horizontally instead of vertically. In hindsight, she probably had expected him to kiss it.
“Oh! Princess- that’s- wow.” Gabriel said quickly. “Sorry I don’t exactly know the protocol when talking to royalty. Do I bow or?” He saw that she had also extended her hand and he took it, giving her an awkward handshake in a moment of nervousness.
Precious giggled, and shook his hand back. "No, you don't need to bow, though it's sweet that you think so. I'm a student at this preparatory school just as much as you." She said, voice dripping honey.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, um, Precious.” Gabriel said. He looked at the number on the door, “Oh, my brother and I are right down the hall from here, room 10 and 11.” He said with a smile. He looked down at the men still carrying furniture and boxes up the stairs, “I could help out with that, if you need it.” He said.
"Oh no, I can't stand people touching my things." Precious said, seeming to wince slightly at the sight of the men below. "I'd much rather organize my clothes and furniture on my own. I appreciate the offer, though! You're quite sweet, Gabriel."
Gabriel smiled wide, hoping in the back of his mind he didn’t look like a complete dork. “Yeah? I mean- thanks- uh- Understood. I- I’m right down the hall, also moving in- of course I am it’s move in day- I’ll... see you around...” he said awkwardly, doing finger guns and immediately regretting it before turning around and heading to his dorm. Sweet… She called him sweet.
He had never been called sweet before.
Gavin peaked his head out of his own door when he heard his brother approach, “I grabbed your stuff from the stairs. You’re welcome.” The labeled and carefully folded boxes were stacked in Gabriel’s doorway, while Gavin was already forming a pile of shredded cardboard. “So. You didn’t scare her off, did ya?” He said as he tore one of his boxes open.
“She said I’m sweet…” Gabriel said, still in a bit of shock.
Precious’s voice echoed down the hallway, shouting, "Careful with that! Those shoes are worth more than your house!" The sharp tongue she’d used with ‘Auden’ had returned, though this time with more authority.
“I think I’m getting better at this!” Gabriel said, straightening up a little in confidence.
The halls of Storybook University were filled with energy and optimism as students moved in. A girl with furry ears and a long tail slid through the walls and observed her future classmates. Two young men had already begun to make use of the large fields and were sparring with swords. Sandra was woken up quite abruptly by another student wandering into the wrong room by mistake. A boy with white hair tested his ice magic against the window of his new room.
Deep in the forest, a dark figure hopped from branch to branch and squinted out at the imposing castle through gleaming green eyes. Out of sight, a wolf howl echoed through the trees.
Soon the students would be introduced by their parents at the annual Fairytale Mixer, and go to classes to learn how to follow their destiny, a mighty honor.
Once upon a time.