Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The human’s realm always seems dull. A sort of lack, he can't quite place what it is. If one were to paint it they would have to muddy every color. The grass he stood on seemed to be barely surviving, the forest he had just come from was much the same. Much too orderly and open to feel natural, much too quiet for his liking or comfort. Of course, he is one of the most dangerous things in it so there really is no need to worry. Sighing he continues down the road to the small town at its end. Passing several fields he can't help but notice the continued lack. This time of crop, everywhere just barren, bone-dry dirt. Picking some up, he ran it between his fingers, feeling just how infertile it must be. Nothing could grow in this now, it's untended to and baked from the sun.

Even before he steps foot in town the stench is there. Unpleasant and sickening, its strength makes him gag. Worse than the already horrible street stench found in most human towns, whatever kind of sanitation this town did have has fallen into disrepair. Like the forest before the town too is eerily quiet, save for thousands of small scraping and scratching sounds. They seem to come from all around him, under the cobblestones, even the walls of houses.

“Agh!” he gasps in surprise as a large rat runs out in front of him.

“Beware of them rats.” His head snaps around to see an unhealthy looking man leaning against the rotting wall of a house. “Things have grown bold. They know no one can get rid of ‘em,” The man continues, phrased as a joke that is not meant to be laughed at.

“I can get rid of the rats for you, of course for a price” The Piper says, recovering from his surprise.

“Ha! I have heard that before, course, you don’t look like no rat catcher.” The man heaves himself up, using the wall for support. He limps as he walks. “What is your name stranger?”

“My name is of no importance; call me the Pied Piper” The Piper dips down in a slight bow, longish hair only briefly leaving pointed ears uncovered. “Where might I find your mayor?”

Chapter Text

The Piper walks towards where he was told to find the Mayor, the specific wording being “hiding in his grand house like a pig.” There are more people now, unhealthy and sick looking. Parents peered at him warily, shielding their wonder-eyed children. As he continued up the hill the houses were in better shape and the people looked healthier, mind not healthy per se but better than those before them. The Fae had a hierarchy of course: there was the queen, various nobility, and additional ranks further down. It tended to order itself based on family and individual power. It was, however, rare for the Piper to see human hierarchy, he usually just dealt with single people or small groups. This was quite interesting though; the lowest members of Fae society had their basic needs provided for, apparently it was not the same for humans. The Piper was yanked from his thoughts by a child, specifically one who cut his bag from him and ran off with it.

“Hey!” the Piper yelled, taking chase through the twisting backstreets of the town. Thinking quickly, he blocked the escape with a tangled mess of shrubbery, finally managing to corner the child in the blocked ally. The child muttered curses as he searched for something in his tattered coat. “Stay back, I have an iron dagger,” he said, hugging the bag tight to his chest with something that looked like a kitchen knife pointed at the Piper. He looked about as threatening as a cat, sharp but not describable as dangerous.

“Relax child, I won't harm you” the Piper smiles in a way that he hopes is reassuring, but probably is just threatening. The child doesn't respond, simply continuing to glare at the Piper. Tiring of this unnecessary stalemate, the Piper snapped his fingers, hooking the bag on a vine that he sprouted from the road. Grabbing his bag from the astonished child, he simply continued on his way to the mayor's house.

“Wait! Where are you going? I could guide you!” the child yells running after him.

“Thank you but I don't need a guide, especially not one who just stole from me,” the Piper responds flippantly.

“Look, I figured it was worth a shot, you look healthy so you must have good food.”

“Then why not steal my gold, what I do have is only for a day's travel?”the Piper says, a bit concerned.

“Rats got to everything: food, water. Gold’s not good if there’s nothing to buy.” The child sounds so nonchalant, like missing several basic needs is a normal thing that happens in towns. Perhaps it is, the Piper wouldn't know. “The rich still have some good stuff, tighter seals and all. But even they are running low.”

“Here,” says the Piper, throwing the child an apple. “It's not much, but it's something.”

“Oh wow, how did you get a golden apple? I thought those were only myths.”

“Do they not usually have the sheen? Where I'm from they become gilded when they are ripe.”

“Huh.,” The child, unable to resist any longer, bites into the apple. “This is one of the best things I have ever eaten” he says, with awe in his voice before violently shuddering, stopping in his tracks. Apon lifting his sleeve the child sees an old wound knitting itself back together. “What the, does your fruit normally heal people?”

“Of course, what is the point of carrying it around if it simply provides a small amount of sustenance? Anyway we have arrived.” Turning to the child again at his side, the Piper adds “stay here, or better yet leave. I need to talk to the Mayor.” He then turns and opens the Mayor's large double-doors with a flourish.

Chapter Text

“What is the meaning of this? We are in the middle of a council meeting! Remove yourself at once!” the Mayor says from a circular table surrounded by four other men. Disregarding the Mayor's words, the Piper walked further into the room, stopping in front of the table.

“I believe I can be of assistance to your town, for a price” the Piper says, smiling sharply as the men look between each other.

“What kind of assistance, and for what price?” The Mayor sounds cautious and suspicious, as is fair considering the circumstances.

“You have a rat problem, I can get rid of them, and all I ask in return is half of your town's treasury.” The Piper shrugs nonchalantly. “I would say it's worth the effort.” The Mayor and his council turn to each other and quickly mutter a conversation.

“You must understand, many have come to my town saying they can rid the rats without following through. I will pay you, but only after you drive the vermin out.” The Mayor spits the word vermin as if it tastes bad.

“Of course,” the Piper replies. “Shall I start right away?”

“If possible then yes, I want the menaces gone as soon as possible.”

Smiling, the Piper turns and walks out the door, acknowledging the child by beckoning him to follow. The two walk down to the first plaza where the Piper draws his panpipe. Taking a breath and steadying himself, he plays a tune as beautiful as it is eerie and unsettling. <\p>

The child stands in awe at the song, and then in horror as hundreds upon thousands of rats pour from every crevice and crack. They come as if hypnotized, swaying and trampling each other. Already there were casualties as rats were crushed under their brethren, dying without a sound or hint of panic.

As the Piper begins walking, more rats come out, crawling out from walls and roofs, dropping from trees and windows, crawling up from the cobblestones themselves. They form an orderly line behind the Piper, who still plays his melody. Villagers come to their doorways and watch in equal amounts of amazement and fear as their town is rid of the vermin. The Piper walks the entire town, and then out, rats still trailing behind. Taking advantage of the situation, villagers grabbed whatever they could to kill the rats that straggled behind. When the last rat was dead or had left, the town’s inhabitants looked into the distance. A mile out, the Piper was still playing, finally disappearing into the woods.

Chapter Text

A day later he returned. The town already looked to be in better condition. Rat and human corpses alike had been cleared from the streets, people were out and about seeming happier. Some ignored him, most either seemed joyful or fearful towards him. Some even greeted him with a wave or smile.

Approaching the Mayor’s house, the Piper actually knocked this time. He was greeted by the Mayor's wife, who thanked him and led him to a parlor. A few minutes later the Mayor entered, taking a seat across from the Piper.

“Greetings, I have returned for my payment” The Piper stands, expressive and exaggerative as always. Watching him, the Mayor falls further into unease. Feeling a need to right the imbalance intentionally created by the Piper, the Mayor stands as well.

“I'm sorry to say, but during the night our treasury was robbed. We no longer have enough to pay you as well as take care of the town. Be assured you have our utmost gratitude.”

The Mayor hesitates between fragments, as if trying to think about what to say. His eyes dart around everywhere, occasionally connecting with the Piper’s before breaking the contact.

Still smiling, the Piper bends down slightly, still taller than the Mayor due to his exuberant height. “You're lying,” he remarks, tone cold and dangerous as steel. “Rather idiotic; to lie to a Fae, I have to say I'm rather offended.” He straightens again, towering over the Mayor.

Surprised, the Mayor falters, quickly regaining his composure and then finding his temper. “I'm not paying you half our entire treasury just for a bit of woodland witchcraft!”

“Then I shall simply take something else.” His smile gets impossibly sharper.

“Best pray you stay in office and alive. Good day; I hope for your sake that I do not see you soon!”

Turning, he walks out of the Mayor's house and down to the square he originally played from. Taking out his pipes, he begins to play. The uncanny song seemed to drift across the town, coating it like a dangerous fog. Everywhere doors opened as children walked out, at least a hundred trailing through the streets towards the square. Like the rats before them, the town’s children followed the Piper as he walked towards the gate.

Scared parents try to pull their children back, to keep them within their arms, but none of them succeed. Some attack the Piper, trying to keep him from playing his song. Rocks bounce off, nothing pierces his skin, he continues on, unfazed by anything. Eventually all they can do is watch as child by child disappears into the distant woods.

Chapter Text

The Piper stands in a clearing, surrounded by roughly a hundred children ranging from five to sixteen all under a sleeping spell for convenience’s sake.

He really can't take this many back to the Fae Realm, especially since he hasn't actually gotten authorization from the Queen.

However, letting them go would undermine his reputation. perhaps he could nudge sixty or so to escape? Ten was the most people usually brought back; twenty would be pushing it, but manageable.

They went too far from town; maybe more would have snuck off a bit closer.

first things first was to find out who is related to who, and who would actually want to become Fae. It's always more difficult when they are unwilling. Releasing them from the spell, the Piper waited for the children to awaken.

Speaking to the just awakened children from atop a fallen tree the Piper tried to come across as a friendly threat. It would be a pain if they were to scared.

“Hello! If you all try to stay calm and cooperate none of you will be harmed or otherwise taken care off.” Of course he wouldn't actually harm them, gods know his father would scold him terribly if he hurt a child. Much less a hundred or so of them. It made a good threat though.

Unfortunately, most of the children looked rather panicked and fearful, understandable but very undesired.

Sighing he continued, “first off, find your friends and family. Go sit together with them.” The children scramble to find each other, siblings reunited and friends sticking close. A few were left unattended, presumably the friendless and only children.

Cursing himself, the Piper spots a familiar one. The thieving child sat with two others, carefully in front of them and looking much more angry than any kind of fearful. Brave little thing.

Ignoring it for now, he takes stock of the groups. It would be easiest to get rid of the majority now, less to deal with.

So, he gives them an option, “We shall set up camp, and those who wish may return to town. By morning I take whoever is left to the Fae Realm. If you do leave, you must not tell anyone where we are or horrible things shall befall you.”

He really hopes none of them take that chance, he doesn’t particularly feel like coming up with appropriately terrible, but not enough to earn ire, consequences.

Damn his brother and his orphan murdering. He would curse his fathers soft spot for children, but then he would not be half as fortunate as he is now.

Turning his mind back to the children he sees several groups get up. Some making a run for it, others back away slowly until out of sight. A few smaller ones hesitate, before following (or being dragged by) siblings and friends out of the woods.

During the night several more disappear. Come morning, the Piper is left with only around thirty children, those who stayed.

“We will be entering the Fae realm soon, and after that, the court of the Queen. Which of you are fourteen or older?” A few hands raise, including the child and his companions. “Fabulous, you're old enough in Fae society to work and obtain lodgings. Younger than that and you shall be assigned a caretaker.”

This would all be sorted out by the Queen of course, who decides where, or even if, they are allowed in. Unfortunately, as the one who brought them he will likely be saddled with finding them all proper conditions. This would have been easier if the Mayor had just paid him, or the flute had worked right and only brought a few children.

In any case, he could not have stopped his spell and tried again, due to the fear factor, respect, reputation, and all. His brother will have an incredible time teasing him about this when he returned home.

With much ground to cover and not enough time to dally, the Piper sets off with the new Fae to be in tow.