Once upon a time there was a mighty kingdom ruled by the fair and noble King Stefan and his beloved Queen Leah. Everything was perfect in this kingdom except they did not have a child to succeed the throne. Queen Leah longed for a child of her own as she would sit by the window and stare out at the beautiful countryside that surrounded the palace. The neighboring king, Hubert, would often come to visit with his young daughter and she would lavish the girl with love and affection. "How I wish I had a little one of my own." Finally King Stefan and his queen were blessed with a child! It was a beautiful baby boy, a prince. They named him Aland, after the sun, for he filled their hearts with sunshine. They held a ceremony to greet the new prince and everyone in the kingdom and the neighboring ones as well came to bring gifts and blessings for the child.
King Stefan and Queen Leah were seated on their thrones as they welcomed the visitors. After greeting the happy parents, they would go look at the newborn prince. He was lying in a crib not far from the queen so she could reach him if need be. He would look up at the different people who would stare and coo at the adorable baby. When King Hubert arrived with Princess Felicia, Queen Leah got up and brought her over to see her son. They had already decided that they would be married and she wanted to see how Felicia would react seeing her future husband. The girl looked down and all she saw was a chubby baby with drool covering his front, and she was not impressed. Leah chuckled seeing the girl's reaction.
Everyone looked up when the trumpets sounded, signaling the arrival of the three good fairies; Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather. They glided down from the ray of light that suddenly illuminated the throne room. Flora was the eldest of the three and wore a red dress and matching hat, Fauna wore the same style dress and except hers was a forest green, and the youngest, Merryweather, wore her dress and hat in a light blue. As they came down to rest on floor they fluttered over the now sleeping prince.
"Oh the little darling!" Merryweather cooed.
Now that they had seen the infant, the fluttered over to greet his proud parents.
"Your Majesties." They said in unison as they dipped in a curtsy. Flora stepped forward to begin speaking.
"Your Majesties, we shall bless the prince with three gifts. No more, no less."
Stefan and Leah nodded and the fairies glided over to stand around the crib. Flora stepped closer to administer her gift.
"Sweet Prince, my gift to you shall be the gift of Joy, may you never be blue." As the fairy waved her wand to cast the spell, tiny green lights fell softly onto the baby.
Flora stepped back and Fauna took her place. She smiled sweetly and said, "Tiny Prince, my gift shall be the gift of Loyalty, may you always be true." Just as Flora had, she waved her wand and red lights floated down to him. Merryweather walked up to bestow her gift, but as she opened her mouth to utter the spell the windows and door flew open as a gale of wind swept through the throne room. Tapestries billowed on the walls as a crack of lighting struck the middle of the floor. In its wake a green fire burned and a man was revealed as it dissipated. He wore a black cloak with purple trimmings, his skin was pale with a green tint. He had long curving horns on the top of his head, and his golden eyes had a steely glint to them. In his left hand was a staff with a crystal ball on the top, a glossy black raven flew around to perch on the ball. The man smiled, sending chills down the spines of the guests. As he stepped forward the staff echoed through the hall with a clack. Stefan, Leah, and Hubert rose to block the new arrival.
"It's Malefisto!" Fauna gasped.
"What does he want?" Merryweather grimaced. Flora shushed her not wanting to attract his attention. Malefisto stopped in front of the monarchs and looked around at the visitors.
"Well, King Stefan, quite a glittering assemblage we have here.' His deep voice echoing in the stillness. 'Royalty, nobility, the gentry, and-", he pauses as his gaze fell on the fairies. He chuckles, "Oh, how quaint. Even the Rabble."
Merryweather charges toward the evil man, but is held back by Flora and Fauna. He chuckles seeing how much he affects the little goody goodies. He turns back toward the hosts, "I had hoped that it was merely an oversight that I did not receive an invitation. But as I can see from all of your reactions,' he glances meaningfully at Merryweather, 'that I'm not wanted."
Queen Leah steps forward and asks in a shaky voice, "I hope you are not offended, Your Excellency."
Malefisto turns is gaze to the queen, causing her to step back toward her husband. Stefan puts a protective arm in front of her. Malefisto smirks and says in an overly happy voice, "Why of course not, Your Majesty. And to show you that I bear no ill will, I too shall bless the child."
Fearing the worse the fairies step protectively in front of the crib. Malefisto raised his arms, causing the raven to fly off. Slamming his staff down he bellowed, "Listen well! All of you! The prince shall indeed grow to be a fine young man. Beloved by all who know him."
The crowd was deathly quiet, waiting with baited breath to hear what spell he would cast. Malefisto's smirk drops and starts to circle his hand around the crystal ball on his staff. "But before the sun sets on his sixteenth birthday, he shall prick his finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel,' images could be seen in the ball to match the words of the spell, 'and DIE!" The crowd gasped as they saw an image of a grown prince lying lifeless on a bed.
"No!" Gasped Queen Leah as she ran to hold her precious baby. As if she could shield him from the horrible fate that had been cast on him. Malefisto's cackle echoed through the hall as King Stefan ordered his guards to seize him. However the evil man disappeared in a blaze of green flame, his raven following. The hall was silent as the truth weighed down on the once joyous celebration. King Stefan wrapped his arms around his wife and son, wishing he could do something to change this. Queen Leah stared down at the small bundle in her arms. Aland slept peacefully, unaware of the danger he was now in. Hubert placed a hand on his friend's shoulder, feeling for the man. He couldn't imagine something like that happening to his own child. Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather stepped forward. Flora cleared her throat to get their attention. Once all eyes were on her she said, "Do not fear, Your Majesties. Merryweather still has her gift to give."
Stefan gazed at her with hope, "So she can undo this fearful curse?"
Fauna shook her head sadly, "I'm afraid that he's too powerful."
Stefan's head hung in despair. Fauna continued, "But she can help."
Flora and Fauna pushed her toward the baby in his mother's arms. Leah held him out so the floating fairy could see his sleeping face. Merryweather gulps, hoping she can fix this. She pushes her sleeve up and raises her wand. "Sweet Prince, if through this wicked wizard's trick, a spindle should your finger prick, a ray of hope there still may be in this, the gift I give to thee. Not in death, but just in sleep, the fateful prophecy you shall keep, and from this slumber you shall wake, when from true love's kiss, the spell shall break." Blue lights drifted down to envelop the child. Queen Leah hugged the infant close and placed a kiss upon his head. King Stefan ordered everyone to leave, as he had work to do in order to protect his only child.
Hubert followed him to give his advice and help in any way he could. He sent Felicia to stay with the Queen. They walked to the baby prince's room which was next door to the King and Queen's. She started to pace around the room trying to come up with a plan to stop this horrible curse. Why did this have to happen? Her baby didn't do anything! As if sensing his mother's distress, Aland started to whimper. Leah stopped and started to rock him, patting his little back and making soft shushing sounds. Felicia watched from across the room where she stood by the window. She was witnessed everything and was stunned by what had happened. How could anyone curse a helpless baby? She had known King Stefan and Queen Leah all her life and they had only ever been kind and gracious to everyone. She had been there with Leah as she had pined for a baby and when she finally had one, this happened! She vowed that she would protect Prince Aland no matter what.
King Stefan, still fearing for his child, ordered that all the spinning wheels be destroyed. Hubert agreed that it was a necessary precaution. They watched from the castle windows as a huge bonfire was lit in the courtyard and all the spinning wheels were thrown in. Queen Leah held Aland through all of this, she was afraid that if she put him down Malefisto would come and take him away. Although they knew they had sixteen years before the curse would be complete, they still feared that he would be taken away sooner. News about the curse spread throughout the land and many sorcerers and magician came to see if they could break the spell on the tiny prince. Alas, just as the good fairies said, Malefisto's power was too great. The only hope that the innocent baby had was the spell that Merryweather cast.
Princess Felicia took to holding Prince Aland when the Queen needed to sleep for a short time. The poor woman wasn't getting any sleep, what with the intense worry she had and just the struggle of having a newborn. Although unlike most, Aland did not cry as often. For the most part he was a quiet, happy baby. He was sleeping at the moment in the princess's arms. She was rocking him gently in the rocking chair next to the window. He started to stir so she put her finger next to hand and he gripped it in his little hand, falling back asleep. She smiled and pressed a kiss unto his forehead and continued to rock him.
Unknown to the monarchs, the good fairies had a meeting in one of the empty rooms. Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather locked all the doors and as an extra precaution, they used their magic to shrink themselves and flew into a small jewelry box. As Fauna and Merryweather settled down, Flora locked the door to the jewelry box sealing them in. Flora turned and faced her fellow fairies.
"Alright, girls. Let's start the meeting."
"Yes! How can we further protect the prince?" asked Fauna. She conjured up a floating tea set and served hot tea and cookies. Merryweather sat down and grabbed a cookie and her cup. She started to scarf them down, as she was a nervous eater and this was definitely a nervous time.
"Why don't we just go and show that horned creep who's boss?!" She said with a growl.
Fauna looked at her shocked. "Merryweather! You know we can't do that. Our magic doesn't work that way. We are all about love and kindness. It wouldn't do anyone any good."
Merryweather glowered while stuffing another cookie in her mouth. "Well it'd make me feel better."
Flora stirred her tea with her wand as she paced around the small space. She always paced when she thought, which annoyed Merryweather to no end. She tuned the others out as she was trying to come up with a plan.
"Why don't we turn him into a flower?" Flora asked. "You see a flower can't prick its finger!"
"Oh he'd be a lovely flower!" Fauna cooed.
"Yea, until Malefisto sends a frost." Merryweather huffed. Flora and Fauna sighed. What could they do that would keep him safe and away from Malefisto? If only they could just take him away. Hide him somewhere. Flora gasped, "That's it!"
"What's it, dear?" Fauna asked.
"We'll take the prince into the forest and raise him ourselves!"
Fauna and Merryweather looked at her as if she'd gone insane. Merryweather was the first to speak.
"And how do you expect to raise him? We've never taken care of a baby before. Plus they're so much work! You gotta feed it, change it, ro-"
"And rock it to sleep! Oh, sounds wonderful!" Fauna interrupted. Merryweather huffed. Of course she'd be on board. As she thought more about it, it seemed like the best plan, but she wasn't too keen on being tied down for sixteen years. Flora continued to lay out her plan.
"Oh, if humans can do it, so can we. Now there's the abandoned woodcutter's cottage, that'd be the best place. We can fix it up and it's deep enough in the forest that no one would find us."
Merryweather thought for a few minutes and asked, "Well of course it'll be easy with magic."
Flora spun around and flew right up to her. "Oh no! There will be no magic! It's too risky."
Merryweather backed away as Flora started for her wand. "Well how will we cook and clean and all that?"
"Oh we'll all pitch in!" Flora exclaimed as she took Fauna's wand. Using her own wand she turned their fairy made clothes into normal human clothes. And with a flick of her wand she made their wings disappear. Merryweather, now without wings, was having a harder time getting away from Flora. Sadly, she tripped and before she could get up Flora grabbed her wand. With a satisfied huff, she walked to the door and opened it. Using her magic to un-shrink herself and made her way to the door, until she heard Fauna calling for her. Without their wands Fauna and Merryweather could not use magic, so Flora returned them to their original size. The three fairies rushed to King Stefan to tell him of their plan. They found the royal couple in the baby's room, watching Aland sleep in his crib. They all gathered around and listening intently to the brilliant scheme the fairies had created. It took some time, but the King and Queen finally agreed to let the three take their most prized possession and raise him as their own. For sixteen years and a day they would not see or hear from him. That night, with no pomp and circumstance, the fairies raced into the woods, carrying a sleeping Aland, to an old woodcutter's cottage, where they would be safe until the fateful day when he would be reunited with his loving parents.