Another fairy tale mood! This time: Snow White by The Brothers' Grimm. Enjoy!


Once upon a time, a long time ago, there lived a kingdom of Thneedovilla that lived in tranquility. It was ruled by a king Thred and queen Helen, both noble and kind, who lived in the castle in the middle of the kingdom. One day, there was a threat of war from another kingdom and the king left his castle home to defeat the enemy, for his kingdom and his queen, who was with child that they longed wished for.


One winter day, Helen, in her purple dress and halfway in her pregnancy, was sewing an embroidery in her rocking chair next to the window with the frames made of ebony. She decided to open the window to gaze at the soft snow while she continued sewing. Suddenly her sapphire necklace fell off her neck and into the snow on the windowsill. She was about to pick it up when she looked at it with wonder. "The sapphire is gorgeous with the white," she said to herself. "Imagine if our child has eyes blue as sapphire, skin white as snow, and hair black the ebony window frame. He or she would be a spitting image of his dad." She touched the frame and then gazed at the trees of the kingdom. "Or have eyes and hair as brown as the wood of the trees, then he or she would be a spitting image of their mom." She sighed. "Either way," she finished rubbing her nearly plump stomach, "As long as our child is healthy and happy, I don't care what our child's looks would be."


Months went by and Thred has returned from the war with bandaged wounds he hoped would heal. However, one of his wounds got infected and no medicine could reduce it. It was no doubt that their bed would be his deathbed, and especially, worst of all, on the night of their child's birth. He hoped and prayed he would live long enough to see his child. Inside their bedroom, he felt helpless as he heard his wife's cries of agony through the labor in the royal bath, but then, what seemed like an eternity, the cries of a newborn baby washed away his fears, but not fully as he hoped his wife was still alive. As Helen, with the baby in her arms, slowly got out of the bath chamber, that relief and joy overwhelmed him.

At first, Helen was afraid that Thred's state would scare the baby, but he insisted. With the last of his strength, he held the child in his arms, as the pillows were elevated, and to both of their surprise, the baby showed no fright, but warm gurbles.

"We have our first child, Thred," she said softly as she sat next to his on their bed. "A beautiful son."

Tears of joy ran down his cheeks. "Look at him, Helen," he said. "Eyes blue as sapphires, skin white as snow, and hair black as ebony."

"A spitting image of his father," said Helen stroking the babe's hair. "What should we name him?" Then he had a thought.

"What is it?"

"A name for our son." Then he looked at his son. "Let's name our son Once-ler, for miracles like this happens every 'once' in a life time."

The couple kissed as they stared at each other for the last time. Then he faced his son one final time. "How handsome you are, my little Once-ler."

Then his eyes slowly closed and his arm under him slowly slipped to his side. He drew his final breath. He died at that moment with the baby still in his arm. The queen embraced him for the last times, with tears streaming down her eyes as she wept. Thneedovilla lost a king and gained a prince at the same night.


A year went by and Helen found a second husband. It was for the sake of the kingdom and for her son. A grand wedding was held in the Thneedovilla church for queen Helen and the new king, the former Prince Charming from Far Far Away and son of the Fairy Godmother, who is now King Charming. Both of them sported in fine white in the flashing lights of the paparazzi cameras. The fan girls from Far Far Away bawled their eyes out for their favorite former prince was no longer a bachelor. The subject of the queen wished them a wonderful marriage, but some think Charming comes across as - how should we call it - haughty.


The night after the wedding, while everyone was asleep, King Charming crept out of the bed and tiptoed out of the bedroom and into the closet. With his mom's magic wand, he carved a large square in the middle of the floor, and when he slammed the wand in the dirt, the dirt sank and appeared a secret staircase. He walked down stairs and into a secret basement. His wand was his own suitcase and each zap appeared a cauldron, a table of potions and elixirs, a top shelf with books of dark magic and spells, tall candles which he lit with a clap, and on the wall he zapped his prized possession: A magic mirror that would tell the truth no matter what one asks. He took a few minutes to preen in that mirror to admire his blue eyes, his blond, soft, bouncy hair, and strong face and slightly built figures with pride.

"Wakey-wakey, mirror," he sang. His reflection swirled into white smoke and appeared a face similar to a theater mask, but it was pink. She opened her eyes. "Hello, Prince-oh, I mean, King Charming," she smiled sultrily. "Congratulations on your wedding."

"Yes, indeed, mirror," Charming replied haughtily. "This bachelor has official tied a knot, and with a queen no doubt."

She giggles. "You certainly know how to win a girl with your charms."

Oh, yes. Could it be my soft, blonde, bouncy hair, or my dazzling blue eyes? Or my built muscles?" He chuckled to himself smugly. "Oh, before I forget." He cleared his throat for what he came for. "Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who in the land is fairest of all?"

"You, my king, with your charm so grand," replied the mirror. "Are, indeed, the fairest in the land."

He took delight in those word because the mirror was truthful. "That's what I like to hear." Then he got sentimental gazing at the wand. "Oh, if only mother was at the wedding."

"Yes," the mirror sighed. "She tried to dispose the queen of Far Far Away with her wand to claim the throne, but he blocked her to protect her and his chest armor bounced the magic at her, destroying her out of existence. She'd be proud of you marrying a queen."

"Thank you, mirror."

"Much obliged." She bowed her head and disappeared. He went back upstairs quietly and zapped at the hole back to its original form as if it was never damaged. He slowly slipped back into bed and went to. He truly believed he'll always be the fairest in the land, but unbeknown to him, he would have competition.