Once Upon Two Broken Hearts

Summary: A fairytale based off of the characters of Ugly Betty as well as the plot somewhat. Mostly centers around Marc and Justin. Marc/Justin, Daniel/Betty, Henry/Amanda. No flames.

Disclaimer: I do not own anything!

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Chapter 1: Once Upon a Time

Once upon a time in the kingdom of Mode there lived a young boy named Justin, who belonged to a noble family. His father, Lord Santos, passed away only a year ago. Lady Hilda and her son missed him terribly. Justin's aunt, Lady Betty, was engaged to Prince Daniel, who would've been heir to the throne if his brother, Prince Alex, hadn't come back from the dead as a woman. Justin and his best friend Hillary, a girl from the village, would often go wandering in the fields and get lost in the woods, having to sneak back into their respective homes late afer dark. Justin's grandfather, Lord Ignacio, warned his grandson about going into the woods, because for the past two years Mode had been at war with the kingdom of Slater, and knights from the kingdom had been spotted in the woods more and more frequently. Justin never worried about such things. He knew he was safe with the people he loved.

One day Justin went into the village to visit Hillary. When he found her outside her parent's shop, he ran up to her and embraced her before saying with difficulty due to giggles, “Do you know what my grandfather said this morning? He said he wants to marry me off to Lady Lindsey”

“Well... it would make sense,” Hillary said a bit sadly. She doted after her best friend, but knew it could never be, for many reasons, “You're both of noble blood and she is the fairest girl in the kingdom. Would be better for you to marry a wench like her than a poor peasant girl like me”

“Nonesense,” Justin said, cupping Hillary's face in his hands, “You know I fancy other males, and that I would no sooner marry Lady Lindsey than I would eat a dead mouse. And Hillary, you are my oldest and dearest friend. If I had to be married to any woman, I would choose you”

It was true, young Lord Justin, son of Lord Santos who was a champion swordfighter and had seduced many women before falling in love with and marrying Lady Hilda, was a homosexual. Even the fact that he was a noble didn't spare him from the occasional stoning from some of the village boys. Justin held no resentment. He knew that it was human nature to fear and even attack what was not understood. That was why so many people hated the prince of Slater.

The two children ran off to the field, losing themselves in the warm sun and cool spring breeze late into the afternoon. As they frolicked and picked wild flowers, Justin became more and more aware that something was approaching. He stopped and stood in the middle of the field, looking off into the distance. Whatever was going to happen, it could not be good.

“Justin, what's wrong?” Hillary asked.

“It's nothing” Justin said, shaking his head. He didn't want to worry his friend. She worried enough about him as it was. Recently Justin was having nightmares about the war and what would come of it. He told Hillary this, and for months she worried about his mental state because of it. Justin wasn't a lunatic, he just... had these sort of premenitions sometimes. Hillary was the only one that he told about them. He thought that anybody else would think he was losing his mind, but it seemed she did too.

They began walking back into town, but in the distance they heard the galloping of horses. They paid no mind at first, but as the sound of hooves came closer and closer the children broke into a run. They were unable to get away and the knights surrounded them on their steeds. They were trapped, “Your highness, there's two children here. Which is the one that you seek?” one of the knights asked. The circle of knights parted to let in a man sitting atop a white stallion. Justin looked up into blue eyes that held a certain mischievious quality. This man had curly brown hair and wore on his blue tunic a silver falcon – the symbol of the royal family of Slater. Justin's breath caught in his throat and his heartbeat quickened at the realization that he was looking up at the prince of Slater – Marc StJames.

“The boy of course,” Prince Marc said, looking down and smiling at Justin, “Let the girl go free”

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The second chapter will be up soon. Please review.