Dracula's POV

I'm not one for stories, but this one holds very dear to me. In a kingdom, untouched by time. Hidden away in mountainous passes, lays a tale that has been told and retold for many generations. A tale so old it is only legend now. I know of this because my castle was not far from these lands where I lived a peaceful life with my wife Martha, when we heard about the newborn child. Until one night where we were attacked. Groups of angry villagers stormed my castle and burned it to ashes. My darling wife, my darling Martha, was killed by those hate-filled villagers. All because of the fear that was spread that we were vampires.

In this human kingdom, King Frederic and Queen Arianna lived in their castle and ruled over a human village called Corona. Soon the Queen will bore a child for her husband. But then, she became very sick. The King had become concerned as medicine men and healers all tried to save the Queen. But to no avail. As luck and fortune has it, the King hears of a special and rare golden flower that may save his Queen and unborn child. You see, a single drop of sunlight fell from the sky and from this small drop of sun, grew this magic golden flower. It had the ability to heal the sick and injured.

However, the golden flower is in the possession of a vain old witch named Gothel. She is greedy and cruel. She found this flower by chance as it landed in her garden she tended to, surrounded by a small ray of sunshine. This woman was possessive and vain, so she hoarded the flower's magic to keep herself young and vibrant. As she did, her hair changed the color of white to black, her wrinkles disappeared into smooth skin, and her bones strengthened so that she could stand upright. Her eyes remained the same color: the color of ice, and just as cold as she was. And all she had to do was sing a particular song that this wicked old witch invented.

"Flower, gleam and glow…let your power shine…make the clock reverse…bring back what once was mine…heal what has been hurt…change the fate's design…save what has been lost…bring back what once was mine…what once was mine."

The King quickly races to see Gothel and asks for the flower to save his beloved wife and child before it is too late. Greed had consumed Gothel, so much that she didn't share the flower's gift, determined to keep it for herself as she has said, "I will not help some useless royals and their brat! The flower is mine!"

What a selfish old bitch! Gothel never considered that others needed the healing powers of the flower just as much as she did. This angered the King. And as a father, he would do anything for his family, even break morals and their trust. He made plans and stole the flower from Gothel. It was too late to stop the King from his theft of her precious golden flower. She was angry, but has a plan for revenge for the King's pilfering.

The golden flower was used as medicine, and the Queen recovered miraculously. Soon a royal baby was born. A daughter. At that time, my hotel that I had built for the protection of all monster kind was completed. Relief that it is finally has been completed comes over me. Living all these years in a manor alone has been…difficult. Now my plans that me and my darling Martha always talked about have been finished. All of the monster world will be welcome to my sanctuary from the persecution of humans at the Hotel Transylvania.

Flying to my newly built hotel, I saw something strange happening as I flew above the castle. A woman was being chased by many guards. "Stop her! The witch has stolen the king's daughter!"

Presently shocked at this, I flew down to stop this kidnapping. I guess you could say Martha would have done the same since she was sweetest and kindest and most special girl I have ever met. I flew in front of the cloaked thief and transformed, not caring that the guards and the King had seen this.

"Why must you kidnap something so innocent as a child?!" I demanded.

"I steal from the same that have stolen from me something precious! And you, Count Dracula, I recall you had something stolen from you too. Perhaps a wife?" the woman now known to my memory as Gothel said mockingly.

I was in shock. That was many years ago and she still looked the same age. How this could be, I was uncertain.

"YOU!" I shouted as my suspense turned into anger. "You deceived the townspeople in attacking my castle and killing my beloved! You shall pay!"

I lunged and transformed into a bat as I flew toward Gothel. She reacted quicker than I thought and stabbed my wing. The pain was great and I lost control of my flight. As I landed hard on the cobblestone, I transformed back, my arm bleeding but healing quickly. But not quick enough. Gothel was gone in a flash. I lost trace of her. The King had seen what I did to stop the witch. He offered me aid. It seemed he did not care that I was a monster. But after loss of my beloved wife, I was still skeptical and afraid for myself. Bitterly, I refused his aide and flew off as quickly as I could before the King could help.

And this was the last I have heard or seen of the hidden kingdom. There was no trace of Gothel or the King's daughter. I have continued to look but to no avail. She was gone. And with that I hoped she stayed like that. I had more pressing matters to attend. I had my hotel to run. Years had passed and rumors spread that a witch was seen lurking in the wood. It was said she also had a tower where she raised a girl. Lies were told to fellow ogres who kept the tower safe from any intruders. I heard of these rumors but I cared nothing for them, yet I should have.

Deep within the haunted forest, in a hidden tower, Gothel raised the child as her daughter, teaching her to sing the song that made her hair glow. Being the possessive old witch she is, Gothel didn't tell the child about who she was or how she came to have magic hair – hair that should never be cut. Because when Gothel first saw the sleeping infant in her royal, she sang to her and the infant's golden hair began to glow, just like the flower did, and it made Gothel young again. Thinking to take a little piece for herself, Gothel cut a lock of the girl's hair. But it instantly turned brown and lost its magic, and it turned Gothel old again. In fact, she didn't even tell her adopted daughter anything about the outside world, except that it was a horrible place filled with selfish people and evil monsters and that she is to never, ever go outside.

Every night on her birthday in the kingdom, the King and Queen made sure there were spotlights in the air, hoping their lost princess would see them and come home. The King's intention was also to bring monsters out to him and make peace with them after me being witnessed trying to save his daughter. After that, from what I have heard is that the King and Queen want to make peace with monsterkind and feels we are misunderstood. To me, it seems like another attempt to kill off monsterkind for good. I hope with my hotel, it will entice the monster society to see a safe haven and stay away from that kingdom.

As for the child, the walls of that tower could not hide everything. Every year, on her birthday, the long golden haired child saw the lanterns from the window of her bedchamber and dreamed of one day seeing those floating lights in person. Somehow, she knew that they were meant for her. That they were special. And that's only the beginning of how her life and mine would change forever.