((I'm back~ This new story has been in the back of my head for a while, inspired by the Flemish musical. I hope you guys'll like it!))
The day began like any other. The butcher was chopping up meat, the baker was baking bread for the customers that would soon arrive. The little town of Nadrid near the castle was calm as always so early in the morning. But as more and more people began their day, trumpets sounded in the town square. Everyone quickly ran over to the square. Those trumpets meant something special. A message from the king and queen.
In the square stood a man, who most people recognized as Francis, king Ramon's personal servant. If he was to announce the message, it must've been big news. People whispered to each other. What would be the big news?
Francis smiled at the crowd, beginning to unroll the big scroll in his hands. "People of Nadrid! I bring good news! As you all know, our beloved queen Isabel has been thought infertile ever since the untimely death of our prince Gabriel, 4 years ago."
Everyone gave a respectful nod. The poor boy had been born prematurely. There had been a week of mourning for the lost prince. But Francis said now that he had good news. Had something changed?
"But, you don't need to be sad anymore! For last night, queen Isabel has given birth to a beautiful and healthy son!"
Cheers sounded at the news. A boy! They had a prince! Questions were quickly called, but Francis held up a hand to quiet them, smiling as he read further from the scroll.
"By order of king Ramon and queen Isabel, I hereby invite you all to the birth feast of our prince, Antonio Fernandez Carriedo!"
~At the palace~
It had been long since Isabel heard a baby crying. Way too long. She smiled and walked over to the crib, lifting her son into her arms. "What's with all the tears, niño?~"
She gently checked the baby's diaper, and then concluded little Toño had to be hungry. Sitting down in the rocking chair, she untied her dress to feed him. She smiled lightly as she felt the baby drink. It was a weird feeling, but it did give her a good feeling at the same time. Her baby was alive and healthy.
After burping the baby and recomposing herself, Isabel just held her son in her arms, rocking in her chair. "You are going to be a great king one day."
"Your majesty?" Isabel's personal servant stepped in, bowing to her queen. "The guests will arrive soon. And the king calls for you."
"I'll be there in a minute. Thank you, Saskia." Isabel stood and placed her dozing son in his crib. The crib was on tiny wheels, so a servant would follow Isabel and roll it down to the meeting room where the guests could see the young prince.
Isabel made her way down to the meeting room, finding her husband standing by the fireplace. Seeing his wife and child, Ramon smiled.
"Mi amor, there you are~ And there is our son~" The king fondly stroked his son's cheek, cooing at him. "Hola, niño~ Did you sleep well?~"
The baby just stared at his father sleepishly, green eyes filled with confusion as to why he was woken up from his beginning nap.
"Ramon, I just got him to sleep.." Isabel smiled, gently rocking the crib to lul the baby to sleep again. After a bit, she heard a small yawn, and knew Antonio was fast asleep once again.
That moment wouldn't last very long, for suddenly the lead menial tapped his staff loudly, announcing the guests. The little prince jumped awake yet again, whining softly. The queen sighed, rocking the crib yet again.
Guest after guest came in, bowing to the king and queen, cooing over the prince, and giving presents. Weirdly enough, the prince got mostly wooden building blocks. Not that he could use them yet.. but hey.
Suddenly, they heard a twinkle, which excited everyone. The guests of honor were arriving. The three fairies of the High Lands below the Water. The menial tapped his staff once again.
"Announcing, the three fairies of the High Lands below the Water! Sanne, Bella, and Ida!"
Lights streamed in through the opened door, slowly forming three beautiful fairies. The guests clapped in excitement.
The first fairy was very tall for a fairy. She had long blonde hair, worn in a decorated braid, and the most piercing of olive-green eyes. Some stepped back at how stern her eyes seemed, but others smiled at the hidden kindness behind them. The fairy bowed, lightly lifting the skirt of her red dress.
"Your Majesties. Thank you for your invitation. I am Sanne, the Sympathetic."
The second fairy was shorter and had beautiful flowing brown hair, pinned back with fresh leaves and flowers. Her face was rounder, kinder, and reminded most people of a kind mother, mostly because of the twinkle in her green eyes. She curtsied, also lifting her green skirt a bit.
"Yes, thank you, your majesties. It's an honor. My name is Bella, the Benevolent."
The last fairy seemed to be the youngest, with almost white curly hair in two braids, and big blue eyes. She seemed very innocent, but her eyes showed she wasn't as young as she seemed, but a creature of power.
"And my name is Ida, the Inspiring. If it's alright, may we meet your son, your Majesties?"
"Oh, but of course you can~" Ramon smiled, gently taking Antonio's crib and walking over to the fairies with it. The three looked at the little boy, who stared back at them curiously.
"He's adorable~" Bella cooed, gently poking the baby's nose, who gave a happy noise at that.
"Ja, very cute. Now, as thanks for your invitation, we will perform three wishes on your son," Sanne smiled, getting out her wand. "And because I am the eldest, I'll go first."
A light shone down from the window on the crib as Sanne performed her magic. "Dear Antonio. My wish for you is, that on your 10th birthday, you will meet your soulmate, the person you will grow to love, and be loved by in return."
Sparkles floated down from her wand, landing on Antonio, who curiously made a grab for the shiny things.
"My turn now~" Bella smiled, taking her older sister's place. "Sweet Antonio. My wish for you is, that on your 18th birthday, you will marry said soulmate, and grow old with them, happy for as long as your souls exist."
More sparkles floated down, tickling Antonio's nose, making the baby coo happily.
Ida smiled and took Bella's place, raising her wand. "Precious Antonio. My wish for you is..." She suddenly fell silent, frowning and lowering her wand.
"Ida? Is there something wrong?" Bella asked, gently placing a hand on her little sister's shoulder. Ida frowned some more, looking around.
"I don't know... I feel.. something."
Sanne blinked and tilted her head. "..What do you feel then?"
Ida's eyes suddenly widened in alarm. "..Oh no.." She whispered as candles suddenly blew out and windows slammed shut, darkening the room. Smoke whipped around, forming another fairy.
This fairy felt.. wrong. Even though she was beautiful with her blonde hair in two pigtails and emerald green eyes behind glasses, she just had an air of.. evil.
People whispered to each other in shock. Alice, the fairy of Night. Even the three fairies seemed frightened of the fairy in the black dress.
Alice huffed lightly at the king and queen, who stood there frozen in fright. "Your Majesties," She snarled, giving a sarcastic bow. "Why is it that each time you have one of these famous parties, I never get invited?"
The monarchs seemed to stumble over their own words. They didn't want to offend the fairy, but they knew why they never invited Alice. She was feared by everyone.
"No answer then? I figured. I've had enough of all this. Never invited, never adored, never given a friendly smile. But you know, no ill will. I too will bestow a wish upon the child."
Alice turned to the crib, walking towards it. When the three fairies raised their wands to defend the prince, Alice merely gave a small huff. She waved her hand and threw the trio across the room, making them land in a little heep.
She looked down at Antonio, who looked up at her with wide green eyes, curious but frightened. Alice raised her hands, casting her spell.
"My wish to you, little brat, is that when you turn 18, you will prick your finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel. Right after, you will die, in utmost agony and fear."
"NO!" Isabel cried, running over to the crib and scooping her son up, who had now begun to cry. Ramon ran over to Alice, trying to reason with her, trying to make her turn her spell back. But Alice just cackled, stepping back and disappearing into thin air.
The whole room had become silent, except for the prince's wailing and the queen's attempts at trying to calm him.
The three fairies walked over cautiously. "Your Majesties..?" Bella was the first to speak up, unsure of how to console the obviously distraught king and queen.
"Please tell me you can do something!" Ramon begged, holding his wife close to try and soothe her and their son.
"We can't, Alice's magic is too powerful, even for us! I'm so sorry, I wish we could do something!" Ida said, tears welling up a bit. Sanne however, seemed to be getting an idea.
"Wait, Ida! You haven't given Antonio a wish yet! You can do something!"
Ida's eyes widened a bit when all eyes were suddenly on her. "M-Me..? I.. But.."
"Please, you have to try! Please save our son! We don't care what it takes!" Isabel begged, shaking. "Just don't let him die! I can't bear losing another child!"
Ida swallowed, thinking. She then nodded. "O-Okay. I think I know a way, but.. you may not like it."
"We don't care. Anything," Ramon said. "Anything to save our son."
Ida nodded, taking a few deep breaths. She held out her hands to the prince. "May I..?"
Isabel nodded, handing her baby over to the fairy, who gently cradled him in one arm, holding up her wand with her free hand.
"Precious Antonio.. My wish to you is, that when you prick your finger on your 18th birthday, you will not die. Instead, you and everyone in the kingdom will fall into a deep 100-year sleep, and only a kiss from your soulmate will wake you from this sleep."
Antonio sniffled softly, but reached out a bit for the sparkles of magic which landed on him. Ida smiled softly, giving the baby back to the queen. "That's all I could do. I'm sorry.."
"Don't be sorry. You just saved my son. Thank you…" The queen said kindly, smiling a bit. The other two fairies smiled at their sister, patting her back.
"We should go now. We will return when Antonio turns 10," Sanne spoke, all three fairies bowing at the monarchs. "It has been a pleasure to be here. We wish you the best of luck in the coming years."
The king and queen bowed back. "And we thank you. Have a safe journey home." Ramon smiled.
The three fairies smiled and disappeared into beautiful lights which flew out of the window. For a few moments, it was silent.
"..There is no reason to be frightened, my friends," Ramon spoke with a big smile. "The danger is gone, we can resume this party. Let us drink, let us dance, let us celebrate the new life in our midst!"
The guests all smiled and nodded. Within minutes, the party was up and going again. People laughed, drank, danced and socialized. The danger of Alice's curse was forgotten within the hour. What was there to worry, Ida's spell would reverse everything.
At least, that was what people desperately tried to believe.