A few hundred years ago before the Empire of Moniyan a long time before the birth of Ruby Pendragon, there stood the greatest kingdom of all, Camelot, ruled by a just and wise king named Arthur Pendragon who was, in fact, a woman.

Arthur or Altria rather, was the child of the late King Uther Pendragon and Lady Igraine. Under the care of one of the Knights of the Roundtable, Sir Ector, to keep her safe from the evil of politics, Altria grew up to become a just and chivalrous knight. With the tutelage of the Greatest Mage Merlin, Altria pulled the sword of choosing, Caliburn, from the stone and become king at such a young age of 14 with the guidance of the mage.

Since women rulers were not accepted in her time she hid in the guise of a man to be able to rule with the aid of Merlin, who donned a spell to disguise her. Serving under her, the inspiration for the Imperial Knights and Lightborn, is the original Knights of the Round Table. Agravain (black-haired), Gawain (blond), Bedivere (silver-haired), Mom (blonde), Mordred (blonde), Lancelot (violet), and Tristan(red-haired)."

She was an excellent ruler that shined bright in the darkest times of her kingdom. The realm she inherited was plagued by invaders and barbarians from the north and south, the realm was not fertile so she had to expand her territory to provide farmlands for her people so she herself invaded other realms and kingdoms while warding off demons, dragons, and other monsters with the help of her excellent knights. Sometimes she would charge into the battlefield where the odds are against her but she would always turn the tide to her favor and bring victory to her people. Her life was very difficult because she is one person that carries the whole weight of her nation but she never complained nor moaned her fate. She endured and worked herself to the bone to ensure that her kingdom is safe and her people is safe and even aided the other kingdoms that begged her help. Especially the fairy forest and the Elven Kingdom that is why the Faeries also respect and worship her.

Her kingdom, however... was fated to fall. During her hardest times, a number of her knights left her court saying that the king could not understand his people. She protected them, provided food and shelter for them, she became the ideal king to the people. The complete embodiment of a good monarch who fights with her men and crushes her enemies back to the dirt. But alas the king's throne is high up. It is lonely at the top and even her closest adviser and vassals were not allowed inside the fortress that is her heart.

One big scandal propagated the fall of her kingdom. Altria had a bastard child with a witch, who was her half-sister, Morgana. It happened when Merlin casted a spell so that Altria can bed with her wife to create an heir to the throne but Morgana stole that chance and bed with her instead to spite her and create a puppet who has the right to inherit the throne. The bastard child, Mordred, became one of Altria knights in the Roundtable but she didn't know that he was her child.

Mordred loved Altria as his liege and was loyal, crushing her enemies and destroying the rebels until he found out that he's her child. But when he went to tell her about it she rejected him and told him that he does not have the capacity to be a king. Mordred was enraged by this so he cut himself from the Round and gather Altria's enemies and became known as the Knight of Treachery.

A war raged on between them and the final battle was settled on the Hills of Camlann, a place Altria had to give up and let be destroyed as the demons are launching their attack. They ended up wounding each other fatally. Mordred died and Altria barely lived because of Avalon. Clarent, Mordred's sword, was also a very powerful blade.

The king stood alone weak and distraught in a hill filled with corpses. The dull crimson sky blanketed the world like an omen of apocalypse while blood and gore stretch across the horizon. She decided that she's not a fitting person to reign on her beloved realm so she faked her own death and allowed someone else to rise upon the throne. Augustus Parabellum, who many may have known as the great great great grandfather of the last king of Moniyan, soon ascended to power. He is a lord from one of the lower houses who pledged allegiance to the King. Altria didn't oppose his ascent because he is a just and honest man whose honor she highly respected among all her other retainers outside of the Round Table.

During her reign even with all her riches, she never got to see much of the outside world or much less her own country since she was too consumed dealing with all her nation's problems so she decided to explore the world. After years of isolation and seclusion in the empty halls of the castle, she finally found herself enjoying the exploits of life. She went on adventures, met new people, saw new places, tasted new food, and finally found love.

By then Camelot had fallen and a new empire rose from its soils born from its people, Moniyan. After exploring much of the known world and reuniting with her knights during her travels, Altria decided to settle down and build a home north of the empire where the land is peaceful and far from the demons. Soon enough she gave birth to her first and only daughter whom she named after the jewels that sat on top of her crown when she was still a monarch. The beautiful child became known as Ruby Crimsonrose of House Pendragon who inherited all her mother's features but most especially her brave and kind heart.

As a little girl, Ruby was very adventurous. She would sneak out of the house to see the town and play with the other children. Her disappearances would often cause her handmaidens and guards to panic throwing the whole estate into chaos. The townspeople were all nice to her not just because she was the daughter of their boss but because they were kind. She would often come home with her expensive dresses in tatters and soiled by dirt invoking the wrath of her governess and handmaidens but it was fine because she was having so much fun.

One day she met an old couple during her escapade in the forest. She was playing hide and seek but then she tripped on a random tree root. She tried to endure the pain but when she saw her knee bleeding, she panicked thinking that she was going to die. She cried really loud which attracted the attention of a huge wolf. She was very young and scared, she didn't know what to do until she heard a gun go off and saw the wolf dead. An old lady soon knelt before her, taking her in her arms and whispering words of comfort to her ears.

They took her to their cottage to nurse her injuries and the grandma, who she learned was named Rose, washed and repaired her dress. She wasn't badly hurt but the trauma was really severe then grandma, took her to her lap, and read fun stories to keep her head off the bad event. Grandma Rose taught her how to bake cookies while Grandpa Oscar taught her how to defend myself. She was really having fun with the nice old couple but soon enough the racing footsteps of her mother's destrier were heard approaching.

Altria and her knights had swept through the realm looking for Ruby. She looked really distraught, stressed, and worried. Ruby trembled on her knees when her mother came down from her horse flanked by her fully armored knights which were really intimidating but then she knelt to her daughter's level and encased her in a very tight hug. It was very soft and easily non-existent but Ruby felt her mother crying as she caressed her back.

The little girl cried as well because she made her mom cry so she apologized profusely but Altria shushed her and reassured her that everything will be okay. Everything is fine as long as she's there with her. And she believed her for as long as she lived. Even now.

Altria thanked the old couple for taking care of her daughter and told them to ask her anything that they ever wanted and she would give it because they had saved the life of her most precious treasure. Grandma and grandpa shared a look and they smiled.

"We don't want anything in exchange for saving such a good child. We've achieved what we wanted during our youth and even though we are not living in a palace and bathing in gold, we are satisfied with what we have. In truth, Ruby had saved us as much as we had saved her. We weren't able to have a child but this little lady suddenly came into our lives and even though it was brief she was able to bring joy and brightness into our home with her adorable ways even if it's only for a moment. We just wish that you take very good care of her and let her grow as she is because she is a very good soul." grandma replied with a kind smile to the noble's request. Altria paused for a while astounded by her reply but a smile soon stretched across her lips.

"I see. Thank you very kindly. I owe you lots for this. Please, if you need anything just call me." Mom said before handing them a card with a raven image. "This is a direct line to me if you're in trouble or in need of assistance. Tear it and it will connect you to me. Thank you once again for taking good care of my daughter." she said before bowing to them. An act Ruby rarely see her do. She nods her head in respect of other nobles but she never bows her head to them. Grandma accepted the card and they shook hands as well as grandpa. They kissed Ruby on her cheeks before bidding their farewells.

Ever since that day, Altria allowed Ruby to go to the old couple's house since her daughter seems to be enjoying herself very much in their company. Bedivere would usually accompany her by the orders of her mother to keep her safe since she liked walking in the forest path because of the beautiful blooming flowers.

For her ninth birthday, Grandma Rose made her a very beautiful red hood that Ruby greatly loved so she wore it every day on her path to the cottage while carrying a basket filled with pastries and dishes which earned her the epithet of Little Red Riding Hood. She became very famous because of that trademark as well as for her kind heart and beauty. The villagers would often greet her and give her stuff like their fresh crops, pastries, or milk which she would give to the beggars she came across with since she figured that they need it more.

"Look, grandma! The cake is pink today! And the macaroons are rainbow! Sir Bedivere helped me bake the cookies isn't he the best knight ever?" Ruby informed happily presenting the contents of her lovely basket. Bedivere smiled behind her in amusement while grandma pats her head due to her adorableness.

"Ah yes, he is." Grandma said caressing her golden head. "Come on let's put these in the plates to show grandpa your handy work with Sir Bedivere." she said taking the little girl's hand and leading her inside the house followed by the knight.

Her happy days progressed on a schedule of taking her lessons from her governess, spending time with her mother if she's not busy with work, playing with the town's children or her fiancée Carmilla, and visiting her grandma and grandpa in the forest with Sir Bedivere. Her life was very happy and carefree, not too sheltered and ignorant of hardships as her mother sometimes send her to work on the fields to value the importance of the work of the farmers when she refused to eat her vegetables or to help the servants clean the house when she said mean stuff to a newbie so that she can appreciate their work.

Altria's tutelage seems to be very effective to prevent her from becoming an entitled brat like much of the children of nobility making her a humble and kind. However, tragedy never seems to take mercy even to a child as it had visited her and ruined her innocence and taken her loved ones.

On occasions, Ruby would be allowed to have a sleepover on the old couple's house since Altria had most of the beowolves exterminated to keep her daughter safe as well as the old couple and the villagers. Bedivere would usually accompany her but this time the knight was sent out on a task so Ruby was on her own.

The day she spent on the old couple's home was very fun. She and grandma baked cake while grandpa taught her how to use a gun and deal with the recoil. They shared a lovely dinner and when it was time to sleep grandma and grandpa read her bedtime stories like The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, Snow white, and Sleeping Beauty. Ruby was very happy with all the happiness a fourteen year old girl could fathom so she slept well knowing that everything will be fine.

Until it wasn't.

Late in the night, the howling of wolves can be heard reverberating throughout the forest, and soon they're at the cottage's doorstep. Grandpa Oscar was roused by the noise and instantly took out his gun while Grandma Rose grabbed her scythe and went to Ruby's room where the girl trembled in fear.

Soon enough the beowolves were able to infiltrate their home, breaking through the door and pouncing through the windows. The loud sound of the gun going off became prominent along with the snarling and growling of wolves. Grandma Rose tried very hard to protect Ruby by slicing down the beowolves that attempted to jump on her while providing cover for Grandpa Oscar while he's reloading or when a beast went too close.

"Rose, grab Ruby and tear the card Lady Altria gave us! We need to call her! We need back up!" Grandpa ordered as he slugs a wolf on its head.

Grandma took Ruby by the hand and led her to their room before searching through the drawers. She dumped the contents of the drawer on their bed looking for the said object until the blue and golden card landed on the sheets. Grandma Rose quickly tore through the card and it instantly burned gold in her hand before turning into two overlapping diamonds like a window showing the exhausted yet still undeniably beautiful face of Altria as she worked overnight in her office.

"Mommy!" Ruby quickly exclaimed once she saw her mother's face.

Altria's attention suddenly left the paper she was signing and pined it to the window, seeing her daughter's terrified face as well as Rose's agitated bearings. Her eyes instantly widen knowing that something bad must have happened.

"Grandma Rose what happened?" she asked in a panic.

"Beowolves attacked us we need back up! There's too many of them I don't know where they came from but they're pouring in fast. Please we can't keep them off any longer!" Grandma Rose begged about to tear up but she had to keep a brave face to keep Ruby from breaking down as well.

The door suddenly slammed open making their hearts nearly jump out of their chest due to the loud sound but instead of a beowolf, Grandpa Oscar came before in closing the door just in time to slam it in a beowolf's face. He locked the door and slumped his back against it.

"Are you girls all right?" He panted looking over at their direction.

"Grandpa you're bleeding!" Ruby yelled as she saw the crimson blotch pooling on the old man's side. Grandma Rose placed her hand on her mouth to stifle her cry before going to her husband's side trying to apply pressure on the wound.

"One of them managed to claw me but it's fine. I'll be fine." He reassured but his pale face and ragged breaths say otherwise.

"Lady Altria, your beautiful face is a relieving sight to see." he greeted smiling at her reflection on the floating mirror.

"Likewise." Altria replied with a sad smile.

"Agravain!" she yelled and they heard the door open from her side of the line. "Gather the knights and prepare them for a hunt. I want them mounted on their horses within ten minutes. We're going to the forest! The cottage is under attack by beowolves. We must save my daughter and Mr. and Mrs. Asher." she ordered standing from her own seat. The black-armored knight bowed before departing to execute her orders.

Altria turned to her child.

"Ruby please hold on. Be brave and don't cry. Whatever you do you mustn't cry, okay? Everything will be fine, mommy is coming to save you all. For now, you must put up your brave face and roar back when the wolves snarl at you." Altria spoke softly to her child. Ruby only managed to nod her head before taking out the small sword her mother gifted to her.

"Please be quick mom. And... I love you." Ruby whispered just in time for the line to be cut as the magic reached its limit and the worried face of her mother disappeared from her sight.

"What now?" she asked her grandpa who was looking even paler every passing second.

"We wait."

Ruby prayed in the corner as grandma takes care of grandpa's wounds. She prayed for her mother to arrive immediately so that they can be saved already. She prayed that grandpa can hold on for a little bit longer while Grandma Rose sew his wound shut making him release groans of pain. Ruby trembled harder as the wolves try to break down the door relentlessly while the old wood barely held on its hinges. She whimpered as the beowolves howled loudly into the night air dedicated in getting inside the room and doing god-knows-what to them.

Ruby tried harder to keep her mind off from the danger being shielded only by a weak wooden door. She tried reciting the names of all her mother's knights in alphabetical order to keep her mind focused. Surely enumerating the names of brave and strong men will give her courage as well to be able to endure this crisis and not break down until they arrive to rescue her. She's like a princess right now like the ones from Grandma Rose's stories, pretty kind souls being rescued by dashing brave knights rushing in to save her from harm's way. She just needs to be good, hopefully, and behave well like Cinderella when she got imprisoned in the attic and then the handsome prince will come to save her. Or in this case her beautiful mother. Yes, her mother is pretty better than a flashy prince because she's braver and stronger than any prince charming because she's a king.

"Aban, Agravain, Bedivere, Bors, Constantine, Dragonet, Ector, Galahad, Gareth, Gawain, Lancelot, Lionel, Lucan, Mador, Pellias, Sarif, Tristan." Ruby paused when she noticed the noise get softer until it vanished.

"They're retreating?" Grandma Rose wondered listening for any noises.

For a moment there was only a painful silence as they trained their ears to listen closely to the most minute sounds made outside of their four-cornered safe haven. Their hearts drummed harder against their ribcage in anticipation of what might happen next. Ruby prayed harder for the beasts to just leave already so that they can be safe. However, the gods seem to be asleep in this deep of the night. Or simply they do not exist in this world.

The heavy footsteps of the wolves can be heard banging over the roof and soon noises can be heard going down through the chimney as the first wolf landed of the hearth. Grandpa quickly grabbed his gun and pointed it to the wolf but found it empty so Grandma Rose stood instead and sliced it with her scythe.

The beast was too rabid while her blade is quite dull so the wolf managed to cut through her arm until she was able to bury the tip of her scythe on its neck killing it. Another wolf soon arrived followed by another. Grandpa Oscar tried to stand only to fall back on his bottom groaning in pain due to his injury leaving the old lady to defend them all by herself.

"We need to get a fire going in the chimney to keep them from coming down from there!" Grandpa Oscar suggested while clutching his bleeding side.

"That is a good plan until we can somehow get rid of these bastards!" Grandma Rose replied parrying the strong claw of the beowolf before kicking the other on its maw. The beowolf suddenly clawed at her stomach successfully cutting through her flesh making hot crimson blood pool from her gut. Grandpa Oscar snapped and pushed himself up with his bayonet before stabbing the beowolf and beating it down to the ground. It whimpered as it died while its companion pounced on the old man biting down hard on his throat making blood gush out in a fountain. His tortured screams reverberated through the air as the wolf sank his fangs deeper against his neck.

Ruby ran to him and stabbed through the monster's nape over and over again until it fell limp over her grandpa. She kicked it off of him with all her strength and released a strangled cry as she saw the pitiful state her grandfather is in. His throat had an ugly gaping wound where blood squirt out as he tried breathing. He choked from his own blood that gurgled in his throat while flooding his lungs with the liquid that was supposed to replenish his life instead of help end it in a painful way.

"G-grandpa?" Ruby managed to mumble with fearful teary eyes as she watched the old man open his mouth to speak only for blood to spurt out.

"F-f-fi-rree." he managed to say. Ruby nodded before taking the sheets and putting them in the fireplace since there are no firewoods nearby. She poured gas on the fabric before hitting the flint and steel together creating the spark that ignited the flame making another wolf whimper as it fell into the burning inferno. No wolf followed it as the heat started to rise but the banging on the door continued.

Grandma Rose cried as she crawled her way to her dying husband and Ruby could only watch in shame for being too weak and useless. She watched as her grandmother cradled the dying body of her husband who only choked out blood trying to tell her his last farewells with much difficulty. Grandma only shushed him as she hugged him closer while she as well bled in agony.

Ruby could only cry silently while wistfully thinking that it was all a dream, that the blood on her hand wasn't really her grandpa's because no one is bleeding right now. It's just a dream, it not real. Soon grandma will wake her up to tell her that she was just dreaming and reassure her that all of it was only a nightmare because bad things don't happen to good girls. She behaved and waited patiently for her heroes to arrive. She did what Cinderella did, just wish for it dearly with all your heart and keep faith in your soul that's why she was rescued from her evil stepmother. Snow White was a good girl who cleans her house that's why the prince came to rescue her.

She was just as much as a princess as they are and yet why is this tragedy happening to her? Why is the world being cruel to her when all she did was be good?

She suddenly heard the loud cry of her grandma as Grandpa Oscar drew his last breath before closing his eyes and going limp. Ruby's attention snapped to them. Her innocent and naive heart broke into a million pieces as she watched her beloved grandma cry her heart out while she cradled the corpse of her grandpa in her chest. An unbearable piercing pain shot through her heart as she felt the vile rising from her throat.

All of this was her fault for being too weak. If only she was strong like her mother she could have protected both her grandma and grandpa from being hurt by the beowolves. She only hid and pray like "a good girl" from the fairytales but this right here is clearly far from the likes of such genre. The real world is never a fairytale realm where there's always a hero who's going to suddenly show up and make everything better for you. No, because the real world is far from fairytales. It is cruel, harsh, relentless, and unmerciful. It doesn't matter if you're good or evil, bad things will always happen to you and no heroes will come to rescue you because everyone is alone in their own fights.

The only things that matter in this world are the strong and the weak, the powerful and the powerless, and the brave and the cowards. There is no true salvation for anyone. There is no such thing as a happily ever after. All of those are bullshits that adults feed to children to keep them behaved but they are also chains of illusions that blind a child from the real reality of this unforgiving world. Perhaps it's also an act of mercy because the truth is as ugly and painful.

Ruby's bright emerald eyes turned dull as a fallen leaf. They lost the shine of her innocence as she stared at the despondent scene, her heart becoming cold and empty like the corpse of her grandpa. She went to her grandmother's side knowing that she as well is at death's doorstep. The blonde girl held her nimble shriveled up hand filled with blood as she can only lament their pitiable fate.

"It's all my fault... I'm too weak to protect you and I'm too cowardly to do anything. I failed you. I should have been the one to die instead of grandpa." she mumbled softly as she cried. Grandma Rose frowned at her words before cupping her cheeks.

"Hush now child. Do not regret our lives because we know one way or another we are going to die as all of us will. Do not say such foul things. Your life is precious because you still have time. You didn't fail us. You never did. You provided the brightest days in our lives with every visit that you made and it meant the world for the two of us because we have been forgotten by the world but you saw us and you loved us. That is the greatest thing that we've always wanted." she whispered mustering all her energy to give the girl a smile.

"But..."

"You mustn't cry now. Do as your mother had said. Be brave and do not cry. When I leave this world I want to take the memory of your smiling face as I part from life. Surely, once you grow up, you will be the most beautiful girl in town and all the boys and the princes from distant realms will visit here just to get a glimpse of you. When the time comes and you find the man, show him your worst and if he still wants you after that then never let him go. That's what I did to your grandpa." she chuckled as her voice slowly faded while her eyes tried very hard to blink open.

"Yes. I will make sure to follow your advice. So you must stay with me for a little longer. Just for a few moments please hold on. The next time I see you will be an eternity. I don't know what to do anymore or what I am. Please. Just a few more seconds." Tears slowly fell from her eyes, each one holding a magnitude of grief as heavy as the ocean that falls lightly like the rain.

Soon the door burst open but Ruby couldn't care less about it as Grandma Rose drew her last breath. She watched closely how life flickered out of her eyes as her soul left her body. She didn't cry out loud but the tears that fell from her eyes are like silent screams that symbolize her lamentation.

Altria came inside the room as the last beowolves fell dead on the floor. She knelt before her daughter draping her cape over her shoulder but said nothing knowing that no word of reassurance can console her grief. She understands her feelings to some extent that's why she knows that silence is the only thing she can offer her as of the moment.

"Happily ever after is a lie." Ruby whispered with a blank look as she held her grandmother's cold lifeless hand.

"There has never been one."

🌹

"Ruby, what story do you want me to read? Cinderella? Sleeping Beauty? Snow White? The Little Mermaid?" Bedivere asked with a kind smile as he browsed through her bookshelf.

"I don't like those stories they make me think that I need a man to save me from my own problems when I should be the one to deal with them. It makes me feel inadequate. Fairytales are garbage. They make you think that just because you are kind, pretty, and faithful then everything will work out well for you but they won't. Grandma and grandpa are kind people but bad things happened to them. I don't want to hear any of those stories ever again. You may as well burn those books." Ruby frowned as she lay in bed tucked in her sheets.

Months had passed since the incident but Ruby still kept the wounds deep which is very understandable for a girl her age who went through such trauma. This was actually a development since she rarely spoke during the first few weeks of the tragedy and Bedivere partially blame himself for being not there when his little mistress needed him the most. If he was there with her then things could turn out differently but there's no use dwelling in the past.

"What about I read this to you instead?" he suggested keeping his smile while presenting a new book to her.

"What is that? What story does it have?" Ruby asked finally looking at his direction instead of her window.

"It's a compilation of dozens of stories about fantastic fighter women. Like Atalanta who never lost a race even to the fastest men and the first to land a hit on the monstrous boar, or Princess Merida the Brave who saved her own mother from a witch's curse. There's also about Queen Daenerys Targaryen, the Dragon Queen who started as a woman sold by her own brother to a barbarian Horse Lord but when he died she picked herself up. Built an army of her own, conquered kingdoms, freed slaves, and repelled evil forces from decimating the land. Are you interested in hearing any of these, my lady?"

"I suppose they'll be perfect to keep my head occupied." Ruby mumbled as she settled in a comfortable position on her bed trying hard not to show her excitement which made the knight smile in amusement of her cute face.

"Sir Bedivere can you find someone who can teach me how to use a scythe?" Ruby suddenly requested.

"A scythe? Why that weapon my lady? Surely a sword will be much easier for you to use." Bedivere wondered furrowing his brows in curiosity of her request.

"A scythe is the weapon used by the Grim Reaper. I want to be feared and as lethal as Death but not in black but red. A burning color like vengeance or justice." she answered looking at him with a determined face.

"I needed a hero... That's why I will become one."

Bedivere was speechless by her words. His sweet little lady had grown so much in the span of a short period of time. She may still be sweet but she's no longer naive and innocent. Life had finally slapped her hard on her face and pulled her out of her cocoon of childish bliss. The old Ruby was still there but her eyes had changed. They no longer shined with the brightness of stars because they now illuminate with the burning brilliance of an inferno. It oddly reminded him of the eyes of a dragon he once met.

"Of course my lady."

"Thank you. Now let's get on with the story." she cheered with a beautiful smile. The knight smiled at her enthusiasm. Her innocence may have fled but her kind and gentle heart still remain. She may have changed a bit but her soul is still as pure and she will forever be his passionate little lady.

"Okay let's begin." he chirped before taking a seat on the stool beside her bed. He opened the book and flipped through the pages while Ruby waited expectantly for him to begin.

"Once upon a time..."