A Glass Shoe

Because Tsuna deserved a night at the ball, and he would be damned if he let his stepmother have her way. (AU R27)

01

Once upon a time, in the Kingdom of Italia, there lived the ninth king, King Timoteo. He ruled Italia well; subjects and others of the higher court loved him equally. His five children adored him, they all held aspects of their father and shone in their individual studies.

King Timoteo's eldest son, Prince Enrico, while the original heir to the throne, was far too ill to succeed his father. Instead, the prince followed his passion for medicine and attempted to heal others, and him in the process. Prince Enrico became known for his healing abilities and gentle demeanor.

Prince Enrico's twin, Prince Renato, was then announced to be the King's tenth successor. He was famous for his flexible hunting skills and curly sideburns. All the fair maidens and gentlemen were infatuated with their future king, for they have heard far and wide of his powerful leadership and lightning quick skills. Yet to the enemies of Italia, Prince Renato was known as the Greatest Hitman of the World, his abilities unparalleled in all kingdoms.

King Timoteo's third son, Prince Federico, was the most patient and peaceful of the five. Like his eldest sibling, Prince Federico focused more on the academics and education, choosing to be a scholar. At even a young age, his brilliance has led his father and his fellow brothers well.

Prince Massimo, the fourth son, followed more into Prince Renato's footsteps. That being he too enjoyed the physical aspects of his position. Prince Massimo trained day and night with the knights and soldiers, even leading his own platoon of fighters to defend the kingdom.

And the youngest, Prince Xanxus, was a well-known hunter with his bow and arrow. The kingdom knew him and his entourage of close bodyguards as Varia, for they aimed to serve the King as protection. Unlike his other brothers, however, Prince Xanxus craved the throne but knew his brother would serve the kingdom to his best abilities.

King Timoteo loved each of his children equally, when his wife died during an attack from an enemy kingdom, King Timoteo understood that more than ever, his children needed him, and he would do all that he can to be there for them.

After all, Timoteo may be a king, but he was a father first. Father to his five children, but also father to all those in his kingdom.

Once upon a time, in the Kingdom of Nippon, there lived the first king, King Giotto. Giotto was kind and loved by all, for the kingdom was very small, but the spirits of the villagers were strong. King Giotto did not consider himself a king; he believed he was as equal as the farmer or locksmith, as the women who had become housewives, as the children who hopped along the dirt path roads.

King Giotto had one son, his heir to the throne, but to the King, the babe was more than his successor. Prince Tsunayoshi, as the Queen had wished to name the baby in her last moments before succumbing to the difficulties of the childbirth, was a piece of the king's deceased love. Prince Tsunayoshi was a happy babe, unaware of the treachery of the world and lived blissfully in the gentle kingdom. For the happiness of the king reflected upon the kingdom; each villager took pride in their king and prince.

It was when Prince Tsunayoshi turned three that disaster struck the joyful kingdom.

Word had spread of Nippon's growing power and its bright king, thus war brewed. The Estraneo Kingdom feared Nippon, for King Giotto's spies had discovered Estraneo's deepest and darkest secrets: experimenting on stolen children from each kingdom.

If King Giotto were to bring up this information to the King's Table, the Estraneo Kingdom would be taken over and the ruling family possibly killed even for their actions.

The Kingdom of Nippon was slaughtered, yet the children were saved for further experimentations. Those who managed to escape were separated from their families as they hid in the safety of other kingdoms.

Once more, word had spread, this time of Nippon's demise. King Timoteo of Italia, who considered King Giotto as a younger brother of sorts, was appalled and immediately launched an attack on the Estraneo. The Estraneo Kingdom was immediately captured, their ruling family and those involved with the experiments executed. The land of the previous Estraneo Kingdom was then considered Italia territory, and King Timoteo sent his best diplomats, and later his sons, to restore and lead Estraneo and Nippon under the name of Giotto and his family, Vongola. Those who once lived in Nippon returned to rebuilding Kingdom of Vongola.

Prince Tsunayoshi was thought to have perished alongside his father during the war. Though greatly loved, the villagers had soon forgotten what the young prince looked like; after all, he was a mere babe during the time. There were no pictures of the prince to circulate, for he never had the opportunity to pose for his portraits before the kingdom was attacked. Portraits and statues of King Giotto decorated the new Vongola Kingdom, his kindness and love will never be forgotten.

However, little did the villagers and other kingdoms know, King Giotto was very crafty and had ensured his son's, and heir to the throne, survival.

As the war between Estraneo and Nippon raged, King Giotto sent his most trusted advisor on a secret mission.

"But King, I cannot do this! Please, do not demand of me so!" Begged Iemitsu. He gently pushed the sleeping prince back into his king's arms.

King Giotto held Prince Tsunayoshi close to his heart with one arm, and the other gripped his advisor's shoulders. "You must, Iemitsu. You are the only one I can trust with him…" he smiled down at the babe snoring away, "I know you and Nana-san have been trying for years for child, but please, take Tsunayoshi far away from here and treat him as your own!"

The kind king looked deeply into his advisor's eyes, and pleaded desperately, "Do you not understand, my time here is already limited, but he, Tsunayoshi— he is hope. He will be the savior of the kingdom, my rightful heir no matter of the Estraneo's actions!"

"My king—but who will protect you then!" protested Iemitsu. While he understood the responsibility and trust the king was putting on his shoulders, he could not bear to leave his king alone.

King Giotto smiled softly, "Do you doubt the power of your country?" His brown eyes flickered a sunset hue, and a warm flame lit upon his forehead.

The sound of thousands of horses shook the castle—the Estraneo has breached the castle!

King Giotto laid one last kiss on his son's forehead. Taking off the chain on his neck, the king placed the necklace on the prince, the large ring shined in the moonlight.

"When the time is right, bring him back, bring him back to his rightful throne, for this necklace is all he needs for his birthright… The ring of the Vongola family, royalty to the Kingdom of Nippon," King Giotto whispered solemnly.

Iemitsu could only nod, for he had been stunned and honored to witness this rite.

"Take him, take him and GO!"

King Giotto died that night, and Iemitsu, Nana, and the young prince escaped to the gates of Italia.

"Who's there!" cried the guard. The sun has set hours ago and the moon and stars twinkled into the stormy night. The guards of Italia knew their kingdom was very much defenseless at the moment with many of its soldiers and knights supporting Nippon.

"Sa-Sawada Iemitsu with my wife and son, I am the late King—" Ietmitsu choked, "The late King Giotto of Nippon's most trusted advisor."

and that's all for now folks! I didn't edit anything and I just wanted to write this all out while I can. The original plan was a oneshot, but I was thinking since it's summer, let's see how much I'm willing to write! (yikes not a lot) Anyways, this is a bit of a modern and medieval twist on Cinderella with my favorite KHR pairing aka Tsuna and Reborn. This is definitely AU so have fun if you decide to stay and read :3