Chapter 4: The Forbidden Fortress
Enchanted Forest
Prince Phillip, Robin Hood, and the Merry Men waited until it was night. They planned to sneak into the Forbidden Fortress, home of the evil witch Maleficent, and rescue Princess Aurora, who was taken earlier that day. Phillip convinced Robin Hood and his crew to join him on this mission. Robin's wife Marian stayed behind to watch their infant son Roland. They hoped that at night, Maleficent would be sleeping and they would have an easier time getting in and out without her noticing. Now, after walking through the dark forest, they were at the front door of the massive castle.
"How do we get in?" Phillip asked.
"All the windows are too high for us to climb into them." Robin said. "We'll have to go in the old fashion way."
Robin Hood then pressed his hand on the door and pushed it open, just enough for a single body to enter. All the men were surprised that Maleficent would leave her door unlocked, except Phillip. He knew that she was so powerful and that people feared her so much, that no one would dare come to her home. Yet his true love's life was at stake. So, Phillip would do it anyway. One by one, each man crept through the door and into a dark hallway, lit by dim candles and the moonlight coming in from windows.
"What happened the last time you broke in here?" Phillip said.
"We stole what we needed to at night and then we left." Robin said.
"Did she catch you?" Phillip asked.
"No," Robin replied, "but one of my Merry Men at the time, Will Scarlet, took something from her that she treasured. She used her magic to find us and threaten us. Then, Will disappeared."
"Why would he do that?" Phillip asked.
"Why does anyone do anything?" Robin asked sarcastically. "For a woman."
"I can relate." Phillip asked. "That's the reason I asked you to come here with me."
"She realized after Will left that he took her object with him. So she left us alone." Robin said. "Let's move."
The group of men walked quietly through the halls of the castle and found nothing. They thought perhaps Aurora must be at the top of the castle. They decided to go up there. However, they hadn't seen Maleficent either. There was a chance they would find the dark sorceress up there instead of the fair princess, but Phillip decided it was worth the risk. They started climbing the long flight of stairs up to the top room. On the way, Robin Hood noticed something inside of the wall. There was a space cut out for a window. However, there was no window. Instead, sitting on a red pillow, was a blue, glass eyeball.
"What is that?" Phillip asked.
"Powerful magic." Robin said. "It's the Eye of Life, one of the three eyes of the mystic fates. It has incredible power. I read about it in a book once. It was once in the possession of the Evil Queen. Rumor has it she traded the Eye to Maleficent for Snow White. Now Maleficent apparently keeps it here. No one so evil should have so much power."
Robin Hood then grabbed the Eye and held it in his hand. They then continued their climb up the long staircase. Eventually after what felt like forever, they came to a door, behind which was the room at the top of the castle. Phillip knew that behind this door was either his wife Aurora, or his worst enemy Maleficent. However, if it was Maleficent, they now had a powerful magical object, the Eye of Life, and could fight her. Phillip pushed open the door and was surprised by what he saw. This was a bedroom and there was a woman asleep in the bed. However, it was not Aurora or Maleficent. She had blonde hair and a beautiful face. Unbeknownst to them, Aurora was fighting for her wife with the Doctor against a dragon on a different planet and the woman in the bed was the Doctor's companion, Rose Tyler.