Prologue

The palace was beautiful and very big. The little princess lay in her bed as she listened to her father as he told the story of the queen that she was named after. His voice went up and down with the different excitements and climaxes of the story. The king's blue eyes glittered as he smiled down at his daughter, her red hair lying in a braid as she looked up at him, her blue eyes wide with wonder and amazement.

"And the Princess Aurora danced the night away with Prince Phillip and they lived happily ever after."

"Tell me another one, Father. Please?"

"No, Aurora. It's time for bed."

"But I'm not tired, Father," she said, which was followed by a quiet yawn. The king chuckled, leaning down and kissing Aurora's forehead, making sure she was tucked in.

"Sleep now and I'll tell you any story you want to hear tomorrow."

"All right," she mumbled sleepily, closing her eyes. "Goodnight, Father."

"Goodnight, Aurora," he whispered, kissing her cheek and leaving the room.

The queen was nearby, watching as her husband left her stepdaughter's room. The queen hated her stepdaughter with a fiery passion that only past evil queens could know. She quietly walked into Aurora's room, going over to the bed. The queen's raven black hair was up in a tight bun and her dark, violet eyes gleamed as she looked down at Aurora's sleeping form.

"This is so perfect," she whispered, pulling out a poisoned needle from her robes, sitting down on Aurora's bed. "I'll poison the little brat in her sleep, and then once she's dead, I'll kill her father, then I'll have the throne and the kingdom to myself." She lifted Aurora's hand into hers and turned it over, Aurora's palm up. "Goodnight, little princess," she said, lifting her hand up with the needle in it, but as she was about to prick Aurora's finger with the needle, someone grabbed her arm. She looked up from Aurora, seeing her husband.

"What do you think you're doing, Azkadellia," he asked, pulling her away from the bed.

"I'm doing what you should've been done a long time ago, Cain."

"Azkadellia, you will not lay one hand on Aurora. You wouldn't dare."

"But I would. And I'm going to."

"No!"

Cain grabbed Azkadellia's arm and she began to fight him, trying to break free, but he threw her against the wall. Azkadellia landed on the floor and was out cold. Cain ran to Aurora's side, picking her up and wrapping her in a blanket and running out of the room, cradling her. As he ran, he stopped in front of one of the doors, pounding on it furiously. It opened, revealing the Captain of the Guard.

"It's time, Antony. Come."

Antony nodded, closing the door and running with Cain to a secret room in the cellar of the castle.

"Her Majesty finally went off the deep end, didn't she, Sire," Antony asked, taking Aurora in his arms as Cain began to look for something.

"Yes, Antony, she did. I must get Aurora away from this place."

"But where can you go? Her Majesty has those mirrors. She won't escape."

"There's one mirror that Azkadellia doesn't have," he said, taking a cover off of an object. It was a mirror with a black frame. Cain turned a knob on the frame, the mirror revealing a far off land, with cars and tall buildings that weren't like castles at all. This was an entirely different world.

"What is that place?"

"That is where you'll be taking my daughter and hiding her there until it's safe."

"What? No, Majesty, I couldn't. I can't raise your daughter."

"You have to! Otherwise, I won't have an heir to my throne. It's only until it's safe. Now, will you please sit down so I can explain this to you?"

Antony nodded, sitting on the floor, still holding the sleeping princess.

"Now, this place is called New York City. It's in a world that's parallel to ours. The people there are not ruled by a king and queen, but by someone called the President. There is different currency there and so for that currency, you must find a job to support you and Aurora. You must change Aurora's name." He handed some papers to Antony. "These are resumes, diplomas, leases and some money."

"What can I go for?"

"Police."

"Is that anything like us?"

"Yes, somewhat, but you have to be careful. You may battle some thieves and other scum, but you can't be too…"

"Fairy tale like?"

"Exactly."

"What about Aurora?"

Cain let out a deep sigh. This was going to be the hardest part of all. He knelt down in front of Antony and Aurora. Antony watched the king. He actually had tears in his eyes. He removed his necklace, which was the family crest, and placed it around her neck. A tear fell as he stroked her hair, leaning down, kissing her cheek. "Aurora, my darling daughter, this is for your own good. I had to save you from your wicked stepmother. She was going to kill you. I love you and when the time is right, you will return to me and your home here." In one swift movement, he moved his hand over her face, the tears falling faster now.

"What did you just do, Your Majesty," Antony asked as he watched.

"I have erased her memory of this place. The only thing she needs to be concerned with now is her father telling her stories," he said, looking up at Antony.

"What's her name now?"

"She shall be called…Saiyuri."

Antony nodded, looking down at the princess, especially at the necklace. "What if she asks about the crest?"

"Tell her it was her mother's."

"Yes, Sire."

Cain looked up, hearing the sound of running footsteps. "You must go. Now."

"What about you? Where will you go?"

"I have places where I can hide. I'll come to New York and ask for pictures of her every year to this day. Promise me you'll have some."

"Sire, I --"

"Promise me!"

"I promise, Your Majesty."

"Now, go! Now!"

Antony nodded, stepping through the mirror. His body traveled through nine other mirrors before landing in the park. He looked back and the portal shut off. He figured that Cain turned it off and recovered the mirror and hid before the guards came down the stairs. Antony looked down at the sleeping princess, sighing. Everything was changing so fast. His only hope was that no one else found the mirror.