Chapter 1: A Grand Holiday

I did not really understand what was going on. All I knew was that this morning my father, King Hubert, burst into my bedroom and rushed me into the carriage telling me only that we were going to celebrate a very special holiday. I told him that there were no holidays on this day but he just smiled and lifted me into the carriage, climbed in himself, closed the door, and signalled the driver to commence. I knew the direction we were going in, it was towards our neighbouring kingdom, and the kingdom of my father's best friend, King Stefan.

As we drove through the gates to the city I saw huge crowds of people making their own way to the palace. I wondered what was happening, and knew whatever it was must be something good, after all my father would not be so joyous if it was bad news. I now noticed that everyone was saying the same thing over and over again. The crowds kept chanting, "Health to the Princess, Wealth to the Princess, Long live the Princess Aurora." I was baffled at the words, as I knew of no Princess in this kingdom, King Stefan was childless.

Slowly, we made our progress towards the castle and once there we were escorted to the royal ballroom. I could see that it was full of people and they were still proclaiming to the Princess Aurora. As we approached the doors the Major Domo recognized us and made the announcement of our arrival.

"Their royal highnesses, King Hubert and Prince Phillip."

At the announcement the King and Queen both looked up and smiled at us as they motioned us to come to them. My father greeted them both fondly; after all they had been friends for as long as I could remember. Once they were done I bowed, I was always told to be a good gentleman after all, and then I took Queen Ophelia's hand and kissed it lightly, that was the part I hated. She smiled down at me warmly and I smiled back, she was a very nice lady I found and then I lifted up the gold box my father had handed to me when we left our palace. Queen Ophelia took it from me, opened it, took out a golden necklace, gave the necklace back to me and pointed to a whicker cradle to my right.

I was slightly confused, but I approached the cradle and looked down into it. I could see my father and King Stefan planning something, but I couldn't hear what it was. As I looked into the cradle I saw a baby girl, waving her hands up at my face and smiling at me. "Phillip, I would like you to meet my daughter, Princess Aurora," Queen Ophelia said to me. I looked up at her and then looked down at the baby, this was the reason for all of the people and the chants, a new princess. Well, I guess I should have known. I waved the necklace over the little baby and then let it fall into the cradle.

Then from behind me the Major Domo spoke again, "The most honored and exalted Excellencies, the three good fairies. Mistress Flora, mistress Fauna, and mistress Merryweather." And all of a sudden there were three short and plump fairies coming towards me and the baby princess. I saw my father motioning for me out of the corner of my eye and went to him so the three fairies could greet Princess Aurora.

They greeted the king and queen and Flora who was all in red and orange told them, "Each of us the child may bless with a single gift. No more, no less." I guess that meant they were going to bless the child, but it sounded as though the child was going to bless them so I let out a chuckle. And my father gave me a nudge so that I would keep quite.

Flora went up to the baby cradle and said, "Little princess, my gift shall be the gift of beauty." Then she waved her wand and sparkles surrounded the cradle.

The next to give her gift was Fauna, she was the one dressed all in shades of green. She approached the princess and said, "Tiny princess, my gift shall be the gift of song." She waved her wand just like Flora and the same thing happened again.

Now it was Merryweather's turn. This fairy was slightly plumber and dress all in blue, for some reason I liked her the best. She went to the cradle and said, "Sweet princess, my gift shall be—"

Suddenly a burst of wind flew into the ballroom and all of the doors and windows blew opened. There were flashes of lightning and crashes of thunder, and then suddenly there was the scariest person that I had ever seen. She was very tall, dressed all in black, and had horns instead of hair. She made a chill run through my body and I didn't like what I thought was coming.

The scary woman began to approach the king and queen. I heard Flora call her Maleficient. The woman said, "Well, quite a glittering assemblage, King Stefan. Royalty, nobility, the gentry, and, how quaint, even the rebel." The last made Merryweather angry and Flora and Fauna had to hold the little fairy back. "I really felt quite distressed at not receiving an invitation," Maleficient continued.

"You weren't wanted!" This came from Merryweather.

"Not wa...? Oh dear, what an awkward situation. I had hoped it was merely due to some oversight. Well, in that event I'd best be on my way."

Queen Ophelia, I could tell, did not want anyone distressed on this day and asked, "And you're not offended, your Excellency?" To ensure there were no wounded feelings, but she also seemed anxious as she awaited the reply.

"Why no, your majesty. And to show I bear no ill will, I, too, shall bestow a gift on the child." At this statement the three fairies went to protect the child in the cradle. But this did not stop the evil woman. "Listen well, all of you! The princess shall indeed grow in grace and beauty, beloved by all who know her. But, before the sun sets on her sixteenth birthday, she shall prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die."

The queen rushed to the cradle and held her daughter in her arms. Maleficient laughed an evil laugh, while King Stefan shouted to his guards, "Seize that creature!"

Maleficient simply said, "Stand back you fools." And in an instant she disappeared in another flash of lightning. Her laughter still hanging in the ballroom and making weird bumps stand out on my arms.

The king and queen were very distressed but Flora said, "Don't despair, your majesties. Merryweather still has her gift to give."

"Then she can undo this fearful curse?" King Stefan asked with hope in his voice.

Merryweather stepped away saying, "Oh no, sire."

Flora then explained, "Maleficent's powers are far too great."

Then Fauna pushed Merryweather towards the couple and their child saying, "But she can help."

The other two fairies offered words of encouragement and then Merryweather stepped forward. She said, "Sweet princess, if through this wicked witches trick a spindle should your finger prick, a ray of hope there still may be in this, the gift I give to thee. Not in death but just in sleep the fateful prophecy you'll keep, and from this slumber you shall wake when true love's kiss the spell shall break." She waved her wand and those same sparkles from the other two fairies surrounded the King, the Queen, and the baby Aurora.