Long ago, in a faraway kingdom, there lived a king and queen. The couple had prayed for a child for many eons. One day, an angel blessed the monarchs with a daughter. King Klaus and Queen Liesel had a christening for the princess the following morning. A malevolent sorceress named Lisia burst into the room, emerald flames licking at her bronze skin. Cursing the child, whom the king and queen had christened Annalise, Lisia cackled as hellfire threatened to burn everything to a crisp.

"This curse will last one thousand years," Lisia croaked. "You shall pay for not inviting me to this damn child's christening."

The evil sorceress disappeared in a puff of purple smoke.

Breathing a sigh of relief, the king, queen, and royal court continued the festivities. Three benevolent fairies appeared. The first, Aliana, blessed Annalise with beauty; the second, Clarice, chose kindness. The third fairy, whose name was Faylene, blessed the princess with bravery.

All of a sudden, Lisia made another appearance, disrupting the festivities once more.

"Annalise, darling," whispered Queen Liesel fondly, "your father and I are so happy to have you. We'll protect you from Lisia, I promise."

She sang her baby a medieval lullaby as she rocked her to sleep. The infant princess nodded off as Queen Liesel set her in her crib for the night.

"Good night, princess. Sweet dreams."

Where am I? thought Annalise unhappily as she sobbed, tears down her cheeks like rain falling from the sky.

"Don't worry, princess," said a voice. A fairy flew to the baby and comforted her. "It's all right. Aliana and Clarice are inside warming up a bottle of goat's milk for you," Faylene mentioned casually.

Annalise stopped crying. She cooed at the good fairy, realizing that she was there to take care of her and not harm her in any way.

Annalise drank the goat's milk and smiled. Faylene sang her a lullaby as the infant was getting sleepy again. Babies need a lot of sleep, she realized. The benevolent fairy put the princess in her crib for a nap as she kissed her sweetly.

Lisia cackled menacingly as her minions assembled, awaiting their instructions. "On the brat's sixteenth birthday, bring her this spinning wheel and tell her to make something special for herself," the malevolent sorceress instructed the hogs devilishly.

"The tip is magically designed to put anyone who touches it to sleep for a thousand years. Fail, and you shall meet your demise."

The pig like minions shuddered where they stood; they could not even imagine disobeying Lisia's orders.

"Raine, my sweet," the sorceress added, speaking to a Native American servant clothed in traditional garb, "take this spinning wheel to the cottage where Princess Annalise is being cared for. Remember to bring one of my minions with you. We wouldn't want to be burned to a crisp, now would we?"

Lisia cupped Raine's chin with her hands and held it until the girl begged her to stop.

"Don't fail me, do you understand? I shall reward you if you succeed," the wicked woman whispered into the Indian maiden's listening ear.

Sixteen years later, Annalise's fairy guardians tasked her with berry duty. "Annie, we have a surprise for you. Please pick as many blueberries as you can and meet us at the cottage in half an hour."

Thirty minutes passed; the beautiful blond haired, blue-eyed princess had picked fifteen blueberries during her time in the woods. Additionally, she had met a handsome stranger she vaguely remembered from her christening.

"Princess, we have met again. I am Frederick, heir to my father's throne. May I have this dance?"

Annalise nodded, curtseying to the prince before her first waltz. "I know you, I've danced with you once upon a dream," she whispered, kissing his ear.

"I must hurry back. My fairy guardians would like me to attend my birthday party this evening. I am turning sixteen," the lovely maiden told the prince, nuzzling him and bidding him farewell.

"Shall we meet again, princess of my heart?" Frederick asked Annalise with worry.

"Yes, we shall. I will see you very soon."

Annalise did not realize that she would fall into an enchanted sleep that very evening.