"Toni...?" Lovino called again crawling on all fours trying to find a source of light. The ground felt smooth and as his eyes started to adjust to the dark he was able to tell it was a marble floor. He crawled along for a few more feet before fire light up on the walls, illuminating an old mirror against the wall. Slowly Lovino got up on his legs, taking a step forward to read an inscription around the mirror.

Srewna ehtlla evahirof noitseuq ruoy kaeps dnassalg ymotni kool.

"What?" Lovino mumbled. "Why is there a mirror here?" As he said the words a strange face appeared in the mirror.

A looking glass, a prize of a queen. Set aside deep in the dark never to be seen.

The voice said in a deep voice. Suddenly it clicked.

"The Evil Queen's magic mirror!" Lovino said stepping back. He had a bad feeling...

Ask your questions I know you seek. Ask me, for your future looks bleak.

Lovino nodded. The mirror was right. He did have a question. One that burned inside him. One he wasn't quite sure he would like the answer too. But he had to know...

"Mirror, mirror on the wall. Who is the fairest one of all?" Lovino asked

Lovino, Lovino... You are fair. This is true. But Feliciano is One Thousand times fairer than you.

"Yeah... I thought so." Lovino said with a soft laugh. "But... That doesn't matter. Not while I have Antonio... And even Dimas." And for the first time, Lovino meant it. "So answer me this, mirror of the queen. Is this a test? Or has that yet to be seen?"

A test fair Lovino? Why yes you are right. You couldn't claim a treasure if you weren't that bright. This was too see if you could forgive. If you could let yourself love the man who still lives. So now that you've passed and your heart is better than before. Why not ask your question once more?

"Mirror mirror, on the wall. Who is the fairest one of all?"

The fairest in this world so old... Is the man before me, with eyes of gold.

And with that, the mirror shattered leaving no glass, and a path on ward.

Antonio stood up slowly, not entirely sure what happened. He looked up at the slide he had just fallen down, not even able to see the top. He gave a sigh, he was sure he heard Lovino fall down a slide like he and his brother, sure that their separation was one more test before they could claim their prize.

"Better move forward..." Antonio said but just for good measure pulled out of his bag a silver ax, the one they had gotten from the slightly homicidal blind axman named Juliette. A magic ax that could cut through anything. He gave it a test swing and smiled. "This'll do." And he continued along the dark path.

The path twisted and turned deeper into the cave before leading into a large section of the cave shaped like a dome... And no way forward. In the center however, stood a woman in a long black cloak staring up at the top.

"Hello?" Antonio asked coming forward.

"Hello monster." She said before turning to him with a sickening grin. "Yes, a monster. A nasty wild animal."

"Shut up." Antonio ordered his eyes glowing. "I may be a beast.. But I'm no less of a man."

"How could you ever be loved when you tighter so close to tearing all who you love apart?" She asked coming closer. "I see the desire inside you. To rip, to eat... To kill. Let it out wolf."

"You don't know what you're talking about!" Antonio shouted, as he finally recognized her. Maleficent. "You..."

"Welcome Antonio. To your final test." She grinned as she started to twist, her nose and mouth turning into a snout, a scaly tale growing from her. "TO FACE YOUR MONSTER." She screamed as she turned into a huge dragon. Maleficent grinned and breathed her green fire.

Antonio jumped and dodged, and came running ax in hand. Her tail moved, smacking him back and into the wall. Antonio took a moment before running again, narrowly avoiding her flames.

He jumped and was able to sink the ax into her long dragon arm. She gave a howl of pain as Antonio pulled it out and came at her again, cutting into her throat. She gave a twisted scream, her tail hitting the ground so hard part of it broke away leaving a deep cavern. Antonio gave another hard swing killing the witch. But before she gave her last breath, she tossed his ax down the cavern, never to be seen again.

The floor rumbled as more broke off. On the other end, a path opened. Antonio ran and jumped, barely making it before the floor in the cave gave way sending the dead dragon to the unknown depths below.

Antonio gave Maleficent one last look before continuing onward.

Dimas lay on his back, not willing to move. He was fairly certain he had seriously hurt his back. After a few minutes ticked by, he slowly sat up, cringing in pain. He crawled and leaned back on the cave wall panting slightly. The pain was starting to fade as he heard someone else coming down the slide.

The Woodsman came and landed on his feet right before Dimas. It seemed he couldn't see in the dark like Dimas could. Dimas smirked and turned into a wolf, and pounced, ignoring the pain. He tore into the Woodsman, biting his shoulder. The Woodsman cried out and tried to fight back, but Dimas had the upper hand of sight.

"Get off you fucking-" He cried pushing at Dimas hard, but still Dimas tore and bite him until the Woodsman stopped moving. Dimas pulled back and turned into a man. The Woodsman still had a pulse and was breathing, so Dimas decided to play detective. He unmasked the Woodsman and gasped. He knew this face...

"Sadiq, you mother fucker." Dimas yelled. Sadiq was a known hunter for torturing wolves. The very hunter who killed many of his brethren. "I should have fucking known... Nice scar by the way. Is that from me?" Dimas asked with a smirk. "Thought I killed your ass after that massacre you caused in the village... Guess I didn't"

"I hate you." Sadiq spat. "You and that other dirty wolf... Kidnapping my beloved..."

"News flash sicko. Lovino loves my brother. He fucked my brother. And trust me, they were fucking loud."

"You and that fucker are going to kill him one day. I'm sure that other one nearly did during the last full moon. I hunted for them all night with some friends from a sheep village. Told them Lovino was my fiance. They were more than willing to help..." He said spitting out some blood. "Give him too me."

"You're the asshole who wants to hurt him." Dimas said with a growl. "It's too late now. You'll bleed out here." Dimas said standing and getting redressed. A noticeable limp in his step as he walked away. "Oh. And if you survive this somehow... Next time you come near my brother. I will kill you." And Dimas limped away, finding a strange door and walking inside.

After Lovino walked through the mirror's passage, he found himself in a beautiful room of ice and snow. The jacket around him was making him too warm... He took it off and found the ice to be pleasant to the touch. He sat down on a flat of ice, and looked down only to gasp. Beneath the ice was the most beautiful face he had ever seen... A woman who's skin was as pale as the snow and hair as black as coal.

"Snow White..." He breathed.

"That's me." A voice said from beside him. Lovino turned to discover the very queen now out of the ice and perfectly alive sitting next to him.

"You're alive?" He asked softly.

"No, not really. My life is done.. .But I am not. However, now I'm limited to fairy god mother esce visits. Now Lovino, you've done wonderful." She said with a smile.

"I don't know... What your stepmother said still..."

"It has been disproven. Your heart used to be clouded with jealousy for your little brother. But it's been proven that love has cured you. That you have cured yourself by learning to love yourself, and then loving another." Snow White said confidently.

"But I still..."

"Feel jealous? You always will. It's part of being human. But that's ok. As long as you accept your faults but never let them rule your heart and you will find that they fade with time." Snow White said taking his hands. She felt like ice. "Do you not think that I've never been jealous? I have. I was jealous of my beautiful step mother and how the world loved her... Until of course she let one opinion ruin her and became consumed. It's ok to be jealous... Just do not let it consume you."

"And if it does..." Lovino said

"It will not as long as you love yourself." Snow White insisted. "Love yourself first, then others. And you will never be consumed. I have faith in you." She said cupping his cheek. Tears pricked Lovino's eyes as a weight was lifted from his shoulders.

"Thank you..." He said softly.

"Now go. Your love awaits." A door opened and Lovino stood.

"Wait... There is this Woodsman after us..."

"I will protect you. For I will always be with you. And I'll see you inside the treasure room." She said and Lovino nodded and went inside.

Antonio stumbled into a beautiful room of stain glass where sitting on a bench sat Prince Adam, smiling at him with strangely sharp teeth. Antonio was slightly taken aback by how similar Adam looked to himself and Dimas.

"Hello Antonio." Adam said patting the seat next to him. "You have been... So brave and heroic."

"I haven't done anything special." Antonio said softly.

"That's just why what you've done is all the better." Adam said with a smile. "I've never been such a proud great grandfather."

"I... What?" Antonio asked.

"You are my great grandson. And you have surpassed me in every way. You have accepted the beast that lives inside you. You have been so brave and faced the Woodsman. So smart and solved the clues. So passionate you found a love so pure... It puts us all to shame. A love you you have woken from death twice." Adam said with a laugh "Hell, you slayed a dragon. That's more than most of us have done."

"I... Hadn't thought about it." Antonio said honestly

"That's why you're a hero. You do it without thinking. You just acted."

"I'm not a hero. I'm a beast."

"You're both." Adam said patting his back. "You're both."

"Is that even possible?" Antonio asked. "To be a hero and a beast?"

"Of course it is. The words aren't antonyms. But seriously, having the blood of a wolf is nothing evil. It is simply part of you. While it can be wild if left unchecked, it can be used for good as you have. To get away from the man chasing you. To keep your love safe." Adam said softly. "You've done a great job."

"I... Thank you." Antonio said

"Now, get in there." He said pointing to the door. "Go claim your prize and see your love." Antonio smiled brightly

"Thank you, I needed this."

"That's why I'm here." Adam said and Antonio walked through the door.

Dimas limbed along, his back pain getting worse. He stopped, pressing his back and giving a howl of pain. "Dammit... I shouldn't have gone into wolf form." But he knew he needed to kill that asshole. He hadn't but he left him for dead. He held onto the wall, his pain was getting worse. "Fuck... I can't..." He nearly collapsed as he made his way into a room where everything seemed to be made of glass.

Sitting on a glass chair at a glass table sat a beautiful woman, her glass slippers sticking out from under her dress. Dimas recognized her immediately from the portraits he had seen in the palace. She was much more radiant in person... Cinderella.

"Hi Dimas." She said as Dimas sat across from her. "You haven't been on this journey very long but you have been amazing. So protective of your brother. You have earned your place among these heroes."

"With all due respect... Are you nuts? I'm a terrible person. I gamble, I'm wanted... I've killed." Dimas said softly. "All I've done that's been any good is try and protect my brother and his new boyfriend from a psychopath."

"That's not what I mean." Cinderella said softly. "I meant the part of guarding your brother. It's very touching. My sisters never gave a damn about me. What I mean is what you have yet to do. You will prove you are a hero, even if the path you walk is not the most pure... It is a sacrifice you make. You gamble because you were poor and you had a brother to look after, after the death of your parents. You kill to defend yourself and those you love. You are wanted for things you have done that are good, but the law does not agree with. You are a voice for the oppressed because you have been. You are smart and resourceful and Lovino and Antonio would not be here if it were not for you."

"No... Toni's a tough cookie. He could have done this without me." Dimas said crossing his arms.

"And very humble." Cinderella said with a giggle. "Face it Dimas, you can do such good if you just allow yourself too."

"I'm not a hero."

"And that's just why you are." She said softly. "And you deserve the tools to be one. So how about you walk into that door, meet up with your brother and get your tools."

"Tools?" Dimas asked standing.

"Sure. Think of it less of a reward and more of tools to do good." She said walking towards him. "Go on in, I'll see you in a moment. Oh and Dimas, you're back is all fixed now." Dimas nodded with a smile and went inside.

The room was small and had a huge door that was overgrown with vines. Lovino came out of one door, and Antonio out the other. The later looking very disheveled.

"Toni!" Lovino cried throwing himself into Antonio's arms. Antonio picked him up and twirled him around, holding him close. "You'll never guess who I met!"

"You wouldn't believe what happened to me."

"Cinderella is definitely really hot." Dimas added.

"Snow White thinks I'm a hero."

"Prince Adam is our Great Grandfather." Antonio said to Dimas. "Also I slayed a dragon."

"Yeah ok, you win. wait." Dimas said. "That crazy wood guy is Sadiq."

"Sadiq? The crazy wolf hunter who went on the murder spree last year... The one you mauled to death?" Antonio asked

"Yeah well not to death. He's just messed up in the face." Dimas told him with a frown. "I think he's dead now. I left him to bleed out."

"Oh good." They turned their attention to the huge door blocking their path. "What now?"

"Now this." A voice said coming down from above. A young woman used her long golden hair to climb down and greet them. "How are you boys?" Rapunzel asked with a smile. "I'm glad you could all make it."

"Oh my god." Antonio said with a grin. "You're-"

"Yep." She wiggled her eyebrows "Now, before I let you go in.. You must swear, with what you receive you'll do some good in the world ok?" She smiled "But I'm sure you will."

"I swear." Lovino said

"I swear." Antonio said.

"I.. Swear. I do." Dimas said after a moment.

"Alright." She said turning her back and opening the door.

Beyond the door was a large beautiful golden room where Snow White, Cinderella, Adam, Jack, Aurora and Hansel and Gretel stood in a semi circle all holding something in their hands. They smiled and seemed to give off a beautiful light. "Please. Come in." They all said together.

"They all have some gifts for you." Rapunzel told them. "Lovino, you first. come to the center and kneel." She pointed.

Lovino nodded and came leaning on both knees as Snow White and Cinderella came forward.

"Hello Lovino." Snow White said cupping his cheek. "We have two perfect gifts for you."

"One for defense" Cinderella said

"And one for action." Snow White finished.

"For you from me." Cinderella said taking her glass slippers right off her feet. "Glass slippers that will never break... And when you wear them as they will only fit you... You will become as invisible as glass in water." Lovino took them and set them down, taking off his own shoes before slipping them on and smiling brightly as his body disappeared.

"Wow!" He said then taking them off and slipping them in his backpack.

"From me," Snow White said taking the comb that held her hair up. "My step mother's poisoned comb. One scratch to anyone whom you wish... And they will die. But it will never kill you." Lovino took it gently, looking it over.

"Thank you." He said sliding it into his hair. They stepped back and Lovino went to Antonio's side.

"You look lovely." Antonio whispered.

"Antonio." Rapunzel said. Antonio nodded coming forward and taking a knee. Adam and Jack came forward.

"Oh my great grand son." Adam said with a smile, before looking up at Dimas "Grand sons." He looked back at Antonio "For you, my brave hero I have a gift I used for many years." He pulled a ring off of his one finger. "This ring will suppress your beast. While using it, you will not change under the full moon." Antonio grinned slipping it onto his finger suddenly feeling weak. "But while wearing it you will be a normal man."

"I can't... Smell anything." He took it off immediately "I really like it... but.."

"Only during the moon?" Adam asked.

"Yeah... I like being a wolf. And this will come in handy."

"Now my turn." Jack said pushing Adam out of the way. "I got a gift that rocks." He pulled out his ax, twirling it letting it grow into a large battle ax. "This, can cut through anything. And will always help you win a battle." Jack said tossing it to him. "You'll also find that other men will not be able to lift it."

"Very nice." Antonio said giving it a swing, nearly cutting Jack.

"Watch it!" He said stepping back. Antonio walked back to Lovino grinning.

"Dimas." Rapunzel said with a smile. Dimas nodded and took a knee as Hansel and Gretel came forward along with Aurora.

"Ah Dimas." Hansel said "You seem to be the little wolf who got lost."

"Too bad you didn't have a stone path to follow home." Gretel said pulling a small stone from her pocket. On top was a symbol of a strange arrow.

"This stone will always guide you to what you wish." Hansel said.

"So you may always find your way back home." The moment it hit Dimas' hand the arrow pointed behind him to Antonio and Lovino who took holding hands. Dimas squeezed his fist around it, holding it close.

"Thank you." He said softly.

"From me," Aurora said, pulling out a sword. "This sword was once used to defeat Maleficent and is infused with Dragon's blood. It is unbreakable, and light but strong. With this." She put it in his hand. "You can protect all whom you love."

"Thank you..." Dimas said holding the sword close. He stepped back to his brother whom clasped him on the back.

"What do you think?" Rapunzel asked.

"It's not gold to buy a big house with..." Lovino said with a blush. "But I love them."

"I think they'll be great to help people." Antonio said.

"Good to keep us safe." Dimas said with a small swing of his sword.

"Better be." Sadiq said bursting through the door, a silver ax in hand. "Look what I found you disgusting wolves." He said. Antonio and Dimas jumped weapons in hand. Lovino pulled out his comb looking to where the old heroes where.. but they were gone.

"Lovino. These wolves will kill you." Sadiq said coming closer. "You need to come with me. We can be happy and get married."

"Are you nuts? You kidnapped me and tried to rape me..." Lovino said getting behind Antonio. "I love Antonio." He said

"No you don't." Sadiq yelled. "You can't he's a monster!"

"You're the monster!" Lovino screamed coming out from behind Antonio.

"Lovi-" Antonio said grabbing at his shoulder.

Lovino shrugged his hand away, "Don't." he said holding his comb. Dimas put a hand on Antonio's shoulder. "Listen. Sadiq." Lovino yelled. "We have spared your life, over and over again. Thinking, hey let's not kill him. He doesn't deserve that. But you know what? I think you do now. You have come after their lives over and over. You want to make me some sick slave wife- I can't run away from you for the rest of my life!" Lovino screamed. Sadiq grabbed his wrist. Antonio growled, but Lovino waved him off.

"So stop running... Come with me."

"No." And with that, Lovino swiped the comb across his face leaving a deep scratch on his unmasked cheek. Sadiq gasped falling back. The skin around the cut turning green. Lovino placed the comb back in his hair, turning back to Antonio tears in his eyes. "Take me away." he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Antonio quickly obliged and scooped his up into his arms. Lovino buried his face in his chest and began sobbing.

No sooner had Antonio taken a step, the place began shaking violently. Tremors beneath their feet began bringing the whole cave network down.

"Oh damn..." Dimas mumbled. "The place is falling apart."

"Where do we go?" Antonio asked panicking.

This way.

A voice whispered as a path opened. Dimas and Antonio ran as fast as th could Lovino holding on tight. The tunnel was angled upwards as they ran, the cave behind them collapsing. They made it out to the light of the mountain side just in time, falling to the ground.

They all lay on their backs, looking up at the sky panting for what felt like hours before sitting up slowly.

"The entire place is destroyed..." Dimas mumbled

"With the woodsman Sadiq inside." Antonio said with a sigh.

"Think he's really dead?" Dimas asked. "It wouldn't be the first time we thought he was but he wasn't."

"No..." Lovino said sitting up. "I cut him with the comb. He's dead." Antonio pet his hair softly.

"You did what you must." Antonio whispered, leaning his forehead on Lovino's. "It was very brave."

"I killed him." Lovino said his voice dry, as more tears slipped down his cheeks. "I ended a life."

"You did what you had too for us to survive. Now we never have to worry about him. I'm very proud of you. But I'm sorry you have to live with that." Antonio said softly.

"I love you." Lovino whispered pulling Antonio into his arms.

"I love you too." Antonio whispered softly, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips.

"What now?" Lovino asked softly. "Where do we go?"

Antonio smiled softly.

"Into the Woods."

This is not the end of the story, but the end of the first book.

After end, or an Author note

We're glad you stuck around for the end of this story, especially after that long hiatus. This was a team effort from myself Roxi2Star and Lady Pyrien. This hopefully won't be the last you hear from us as a team. We may be back with more stories to tell, and maybe even a second part to this.

Yes this may never get a second part. We know there are many loose ends but consider this complete for now. If you liked the story then you should definitely watch the miniseries The 10th Kingdom as that was the inspiration for a lot of this. The plot is very, very different but the world is very much the same.

Thank you, really. Thank you.

~Roxi2Star & Lady Pyrien