Chapter One: A curse

Back in the Reign of King Stefan the Second, prosperity of the kingdom was at an all time high. Peace was throughout the entire country. Everyone's problems were minimal and trivial. The Young Royal couple was beloved by their subjects. And everyone felt for the couple when it was discovered that they were unable to have children.

It was common knowledge that the King and Queen and longed for a child. They had tried everything that they could. They prayed. They traveled the world searching for a reason, or a cure. But nothing worked. The Queen, heart-broken, walked a long the shore of the ocean allowing her salty tears to join the large body of water. She longed that her pain would join her tears. She hoped it would become small and insignificant as her tears were in the massive sea.

As she walked she noticed a small fish upon the sea shore. It lay there gasping for breath. The Queen picked the tiny fish up and placed him in the water saying, "Dear fish, I feel your pain. I wish that someone would relieve me of my burden." The fish looked up at the Queen and said, "I know your wish. And it will be so." The Queen let a cry and fainted. The guards picked their queen up and took her to the castle. Time passed and what the fish foretold came to be true. The Queen was pregnant.

Now she was in searing pain. But she didn't care. She knew that it didn't even begin to compare to the pain she had felt for so long. She just wished that she didn't have the entire court watching in anticipation. It was one of the down-sides of being royal. You were always in the limelight. People came from all over to see the miracle birth. So the Queen felt more eyes then usual. Suddenly the Midwife shouted out that she could see the baby crowning. It was nearly time.

Everyone was bustling in anticipation. They couldn't wait for the celebration to begin. Then a piercing shriek came from the midwife's mouth. The King burst through the doors to see what was happening. When he saw the child, he fainted. A few servants ran to help the King out, then they saw what had made the King faint. They shuddered. The Queen saw the reactions and demanded to know what had happened. The midwife cut the umbilical cord and showed the Queen the child.

"NO! I refuse to accept this! No! NO! NOOOOO!"

The royal physicians came in and gave the Queen some smelling salts to calm her and make her rest. The entire court was in shock. What were they to do? What could they do? Would anyone be able to cure such a thing? After all was it even possible? After all princesses aren't born wolves. Ever.

As soon as the King awoke, he sent for the Three Good Fairies. They came as soon as they heard that they had been summoned. The three good fairies weren't really fairies in the Judeo-Christain sense. They didn't have wings, they didn't have wands, and they didn't have squeaky voices that were so sugary sweet they gave you a tooth ache. In fact the Three Good Fairies weren't even necessarily good. I mean they tended to be nice. It's not like they went out of their way to be evil. In fact they were generally good. How else would they have gotten their name? You just wouldn't want to piss them off.

The Trio was composed of Fauna, Flora, and Merryweather. They were sisters who had trained together in the mystical ways for centuries. Fauna was the undeclared leader. She was direct and to the point. Flora was the most fairy like of all. She was the Old grandmother type. And Merryweather was the youngest of the Trio. She was very sporadic. She spoke her mind with out thinking of the consequences.

As soon as they came, they rushed to the princess. They peered over the child and talked to each other in whispers. When they had finished examining the babe. They went and sat down next to the King. The King looked to the fairies and asked, "Is there anything that can be done?"

"We believe, yes."they answered simultaneously

"There is! OH what a joyous occasion! What should I do? What should I send for You name it! OH thank you thank you. I knew you would rid my daughter of this horrid curse!"

The three fairies looked at each other. Then Fauna looked up to the King and said in a very serious voice,"Your Highness, this is powerful and dark magic. We can help. But that's just it. We can only help the curse. Relieve it of the more grisly effects. But she will never fully recover."

King Stefen looked at the fairies. He sobbed bitterly and then asked them to do the best that they could.

Fauna stepped forth and sang sweetly:

"Oh small one, so tiny,

so calm, so petite,

Your curse is one

that I might just beat.

Your looks will change

back to their original design.

Beauty, Grace, Love

will all be thine.

Everyday your beauty will grow

until the Full Moon decides to show."

The King watched in awe as his small daughter changed into a beautiful girl with an alabaster brow and dark curls. Her eyes the most clear shade of blue. "So she shall only will only be a wolf on the night of the Full Moon?"

Fauna nodded. Then Flora stepped up next.

"Princess with my turn I shall

Relieve you of the pain you befell.

Your Transformation when it occurs,

will be nothing more then a blur.

If you are injured no pain will you feel

Magic will take care of any ordeal."

Flora smiled at the baby gurgling her thanks."Your majesty, I have made it so that your daughter will not be able to recall the pain of the transformation nor will she be injured in her state."

Merryweather then took her turn.

"I sweet one have my gift to give,

I give you a chance to live.

Only your parents will know of your fate.

Only they will be able to relate

the truth to others..."

But before Merryweather could finish her song, a great loud wind burst the windows open and a dark cloud filled the room as did a low laugh. As the clouds separated, the laugh grew louder and shriller. When they had finally dispersed the group saw who was laughing. It was the Trio's youngest sister. Maleficent. Maleficent had studied with the sisters in the mystical ways until she began exploring the dark arts. The ones that require pure and true evil.

King Stefan stepped forth,"Maleficent.. I was unaware that you would be coming?"

"Yes, Stefan. That might have to do with you leaving me of the list. You know I was quite hurt by this obvious jab in my direction." Maleficent began to walk about the room. King Stefan swallowed the air in his mouth."But I do not take offense. You see I too have decided to help this poor child. It's the least I can do after causing such a catastrophe."

"Maleficent! What have you done to this child?"asked Fauna. "What has she done to you?"

"It is not what she has done. It is what her parents failed to do." Maleficent said while gnashing her teeth. "They scoured the world in search of a way to have this child. They didn't think to ask the most powerful mystic that exists! ME! And you know how I am so easily offended. I was deeply hurt."

"Maleficent, even you can know that to attack an innocent child"

"SILENCE! I am not here to listen to you attempt to teach me laws that I mastered while you struggled with the basics. Besides I am here to help that innocent baby. Unlike the likes of you who can do nothing. You all are far to weak minded for such things."

Maleficent put her hand up to the sky and said in a deep throaty voice,"Princess you have been given a life as a wolf but once a night. Your memory has been taken away. And your pain erased. And No one knows the truth of your fate. But I will give you the chance to protect yourself. Listen well all of you! Princess whomever you bite will share your fate." and with that Maleficent cackled her terrible cackle and left with a cloud covering her.