Prologue

It was a time when beliefs of magic, unicorns and dragons, elves and fairies, still reigned supreme. People would look behind their backs, trying to make sure they were safe from the dark sorcery around them while praying for light magic to come over and bless them. The king ruled from the rushing rivers and windy moors to the west, to the dark forrest and barren snowy mountains to the north. To the east was a dark forest, shadows creeping out and threatening to touch the edges of the thick dirt pathways that made up the the city. Crudely built, but proudly maintained houses lined the streets, growing ever larger and ever grander, the streets slowly turning from dirt to rough stone, and from rough stone to smooth stone, slowly leading the way to the castle, which loomed over everything, a moat surrounding the outside, murky water appearing just waiting for an alligator to pop up and eat any trespassers. A wooden drawbridge was lowered, with knights proudly stationed at the entrance, keeping watch. A wall hid most of the castle from the view of the outside, except for two tall towers that peeked over, as if they demanded to be seen. Inside one of these towers was a room with a single window, bars covering the outside so no invaders could scale the outside and make their way in. Hints of ivy growing from the base of the tower reaching in and invading the room. Wooden floors were illuminated with the light of candles, that hung on iron candlesticks that were mounted to the wall. A large door stood open, the hints of a spiral staircase could be seen from the seat, a three legged, once modest wooden stool that was adorned with a red cushion, embroidered with golden thread, that offered a look to the world beyond the bars. That cushion is where he sat, the prince, holding a book in his hands, his steely blue eyes carefully reading over the pages of his kingdom's history for what was probably the hundredth time.

A light breeze filled the room and ruffled the pages, distracting him from the written words. He didn't mean to glance out the window, but upon doing so he spotted her, a girl with hair as black as night, walking along the streets, holding a basket in one hand filled with an assortment of greens. In her other hand she held onto a bouquet of wildflowers, before walking over to one of the houses, knocking and entering, disappearing from his view. She captivated him. The prince didn't hesitate. He calmly made his way down the spiral stairs, seeing a pair of servants he had tasked with guarding the tower to make sure no one disturbed him. "Fetch me a cloak. Not one of mine, but one of the nobles," he barked out before walking to his chambers.

"Prince Felix, what for, might I ask?" one of the servants inquired, attempting to keep pace with the prince, briskly walking down the hall, a single one his long, confident strides equalling two of the poor servant's.

"Do as I request." His stern voice startled the servants so the prince added on a hasty "Please." The servants hurried away to find a cloak for the prince. Felix went to his wardrobe and found the plainest clothes he had, which was black with no embroidery, though the expensive fabric still helped display his wealthy status. The servants returned moments after Felix had changed, carrying a dark green cloak. He placed it on, making sure the hood covered his face. "This will do. I'll be back by sunset." The servants were unable to stop him and were forced to watch as their prince left.

In the house a girl stood over a boiling cauldron, adding an assortment of herbs and flowers to the hot liquid, her master watchful. "You're talented, my dear, Bridgette." A man loomed over her, speaking to her with a hushed whisper in her ear. He looked into the cauldron, placing a hand on her shoulder. "A touch more of belladonna and this will be perfect."

"Yes sir." She plucked a few shiny, black berries off of a plant that sat in her basket, throwing them into the mix, causing the potion to turn from a lilac color to a deep purple.

"Very good. There should be enough potion in there for four vials." Bridgette went an grabbed four little glass vials from a shelf and placed the poured the potion into them. "Go deliver these to the doctor. He's the one that requested them." She did as she was told, placing the vials in her basket, tucking a loose stand of hair behind her ear and leaving the house, shutting the door behind her, only to immediately run into someone, send her sprawling on the ground.

"Ow." She looked up to see who she had run into, a man, dressed in black, a green hood covering his face, only a few strands of golden hair and icy blue eyes peeking out. She looked up at him and he didn't seem the least bit sorry that he caused her to fall over, a smirk dancing on his lips. "Excuse me," she said, sarcasm dripping with every word.

"If you insist." Bridgette felt her jaw drop and though the stranger extended her a hand to her her up she brushed it away, getting up from the ground on her own accord and dusting herself off, turning away from the man. "Wait," she felt his hand come forward and grab her wrist, turning her around so she faced him. The hood fell off, revealing his face. The smirk disappeared, being replaced by genuine remorse. "I'm sorry."

"Well, you're lucky I'm not going to turn you into a cat on the spot. I can do that, you know."

"I don't doubt it."

Bridgette turned and walked away, making her way down the the doctor's home. She heard footsteps behind her, but she chose to ignore him. If he was going to follow her she was going to have fun with him. She gave the potions to the doctor and turned to him. "So, why are you following me?"

"Because you're beautiful." The way he spoke, it was like that answer was supposed to be obvious.

Despite the blush rising on her cheeks she didn't miss a beat in responding. "Beautiful. You don't even know me."

"You're a beautiful sorceress that can turn me into a cat if you so desired."

"Hmm, I guess that makes you the rude stranger who would follow me off the edge of a cliff if you so desired."

He let out a small laugh. No one had ever spoken to Felix like this before. He enjoyed having someone talk back to him, not take everything he said seriously. "I would." He held out a hand introducing himself to her. "My name is Felix."

"Felix, huh? Like the prince?"

"The very same."

"Well I hope you don't expect me to curtsy." She took his hand in hers, laughing. "My name is Bridgette."

For months after that Felix would leave the castle and go meet the enchanting sorceress, bringing her pastries from the castle, or books that he could share with her. They would spend their afternoons at the edge of the village, in a sunny spot near the forest, leaning against a tree, and, eventually, one another. Neither of them noticed Bridgette's master following them out, watching their movements, clenching his teeth every time the two of them gazed lovingly into the other's eyes.

After a year the king decided that it was time Felix found a wife and decided to throw a ball, inviting every young woman in the kingdom. Felix knew who his heart belonged to though. His eyes would only be on one person at the dance.

"Isn't it wonderful, Master? The king is throwing a ball for Felix!" Bridgette was looking through her clothes, pulling out different dresses, a frown pulling at the corners of her mouth every time she decided one wasn't suited to her tastes, getting through all her gowns. "I don't think any of these will do."

The sorcerer smiled, narrowing his eyes. "Don't worry about that, my dear. I have a spell that can help." With a few magic words the girl was dressed in a red ballgown, trimmed with black lace, red flowers adorning her hair and a pair of black glass slippers on her feet. Inside the sleeve she felt something cold pressing against her forearm. She lifted the sleeve and saw a shining silver dagger, red jewels encrusted on the handle.

"Wh-what is this?" She looked up at the man, trying to understand what was going on. "What are you-"

"You are going to the ball, and, at the stroke of midnight, you will plunge this knife into his heart."

She shook her head, rapidly, tears beginning to fill her eyes. "No! No, I refuse. I- I won't do it!"

"You have no choice. The spell I cast has complete control over you."

"No." The tears began to fall down her cheeks and she turned to the man that she had trusted. "Why?"

"Why?" He leaned in close, placing a kiss on her cheek, causing her to recoil. "I want you, my dear Bridgette. I want you for myself."

"I-I won't go. I refuse. I'm not going to the ball."

"You have no choice." The clock struck eight and Bridgette felt herself being pulled towards the castle. Every attempt she made to stop herself was met with a stronger opposition, pulling her along.

She reached the castle and was greeted with smiles. People looked at her, dressed exquisitely whispering to themselves "Is she a princess?" "Who is that woman?" No one was surprised when Prince Felix made his way to the beautiful woman, taking her in his arms, pulling her to the dance floor, waltzing with her the entire night.

"Bridgette," he spoke, only minutes remaining until midnight, "you know why my father is hosting the event, don't you?" Tears started to fill her eyes once again, tears Felix interpreted as tears of happiness. He began to kiss the tears away. "Marry me, Bridgette. Become the Queen of this country."

She shook her head side to side, the tears falling faster and faster, distorting her beautiful face. "No- no please."

"What's wrong? Bridgette, you can tell me."

"Please, Felix, run away from me and never look at me again. I- I-"

"Are you scared? Bridgette, you and I can do anything together. I love you."

"I love you too," Felix began to wipe away the tears from her face, "and that's the problem." The clock struck midnight and she took the dagger in her hand, stabbing him in the chest, plunging the silver knife deeper into him.

Her tears fell faster and faster and Felix suddenly understood. "This- wasn't your choice, was it?"

"Never."

He placed his hand behind her head and cradled it, using the last ounces of strength he had to kiss the girl, pouring everything he never got to say into this kiss, before collapsing, falling to the ground, closing his eyes, never opening them again.

Brigette was afraid. She killed the man she loved, so she did the only thing she could think of. She ran. She ran away from the ball, leaving one of the black glass slippers behind. She ran until she reached the edge of the forest, to where she had sat alongside Felix so many times, refusing to go back home and greet the man who forced her to kill her beloved.

That didn't stop him from seeking her out. He found her weeping under the tree, her head held in her hands. "Did you kill him?" She didn't answer. Her tears should be enough proof. "I know this is... upsetting, but why don't you marry me? Without an heir the king will be unable to hold the throne. I'll use my magic to make sure I become the new king, and you can be my Queen. We can be happy."

"I refuse," she choked out.

"Are you sure about that?"

"So be it." He turned and left, leaving Brigette. She would be discovered by the castle knights after only an hour. They held the shoe and saw she wore the matching one. They saw the bloodstains on her dress and knew she was the prince's assassin. She was locked away in the dungeon.

True to his word the sorcerer became King, using his magic to influence everyone around him to allow him to become so. After a month he made his way down to the dungeon, seeing the girl there. The tearful expression she wore last time they met was replaced by something darker. Her eyes, dark blue like the deepest ocean, were glaring at him. He could practically see the fire burning behind her gaze. "Bridgette, I think you've been in this dungeon long enough. Marry me and you can come out. I don't think you'd like the alternative."

"You forced me to kill Felix, the man I love, and now you want me to marry you? Never. I'd rather die."

"So be it." He turned away from her and looked off to where guards stood at the entrance to the prison. "Guards!" They hurried over to where the king stood outside the cell. "This woman refuses to repent for the crime of murdering Prince Felix. As such, I think it it only fair that she reaps what she sows. She will be executed immediately."

The guards nodded. "I'll go prepare the gallows."

"No. She's a sorceress. The gallows won't be enough. She will be burned at the stake just outside the gates of the palace where everyone can see her." The guards nodded and left to prepare the stake for Bridgette. "If only you had agreed to marry me, my dear."

"There are some fates that are worse than death."

After a few hours waiting in anxiety she was taken by the guards to where her punishment would be carried out. She was tied to a stake, people in the crowd rallying for her demise, familiar faces showing themselves in the crowd. None seemed to remember she was once the kind sorceress that lived among them. She looked up to the sky, hearing them all shouting "repent," or "burn the witch." She was going to die, but she would not let those who hurt her and her beloved go unpunished. The fire was lit below her and she could feel the flames begin to consume her. There wasn't much time.

"The next daughter born to the King's family line will bring despair to the kingdom." She declared, casting the spell with the last bit of strength she possessed before letting herself be taken by the fire. No one heard her spell. No one could imagine the tragedy that would befall the kingdom.

So this was initially written for my creative writing class but I decided to adapt it for a story I'm writing soon. It worked as a much nicer prologue than the one I had planned. It also works for the Twisted Fairytale Challenge on The Miraculous Challenges Forum, so this is also my submission for that. I hope y'all enjoyed this prologue. More of this story will be coming soon. Probably not until I finish Romeo and Marinette, but Valentine's Day is just around the corner. Let me know what y'all think and I'll see y'all soon!