Wow! Ten reviews! Merci, Muchas Gracias and Vielen Dank! Here you go, Chapter 9 -- 3 more chapters to go! And thanks again to all my reviewers, with a welcome to Abigaile - glad you like the story, and I just love how you spell your name! - MKR

Chapter 9: A Curse Fulfilled

[In the woods. The fairies and Sarah, with her head down, walk cautiously towards the castle. They get inside unnoticed into some room]

Anna: All right, in here, dear.

Madelynne: [closes the door and sighs]

Anna: Lock the door, Madelynne! Jaclyn, pull the drapes! And now, dear, if you'll just sit here. This one last gift, dear child for thee, the symbol of thy royalty. A crown to wear in grace and beauty, as is thy right, and royal duty.

[The fairies set the crown on her head. Sarah again breaks into tears]

Jaclyn: Now, dear.

Anna: Come, let her have a few moments alone. [they leave the room]

Madelynne: It's that boy she met.

Jaclyn: Whatever are we going to do?

[Inside the room, the fire goes out, and out of a shadow, Maleficent shortly appears, then there's only a ball of light visible. Sarah gets up as if in a spell, and starts towards the light]

Madelynne: I don't see why she has to marry any old prince.

Jaclyn: Now, that's not for us to decide, dear.

[inside, the mysterious light moves beyond the fireplace, where the wall opens]

Jaclyn: Maybe we should tell King Albert about the boy.

Madelynne: Well, why don't we?

[they hear a faint sound from inside the room]

Anna: Listen! Maleficent!

Fairies: Mac, Mac!

[they open the door]

Anna: Oh why did we leave her alone?

Fairies: Mac, Mac!

[The fairies see Sarah walking through the fireplace, but the wall reappears. Sarah slowly walks up a staircase, following the light. The fairies try pushing the wall open, then Anna uses her magic]

Fairies: Mac, Mac! Where are you? Mac!

[There are multiple ways going off the fireplace. The fairies don't find the right way at once]

Fairies: Mac!

Madelynne: Maybe we should have waited 'til tomorrow to bring her back.

[Sarah follows the light into a room in the tower, where the light turns into a spinning wheel. Sarah starts to reach towards it with her left hand]

Fairies: Mac! Don't touch anything!

[Sarah holds back. Without seeing her, we hear Maleficent saying]

Maleficent: Touch the spindle. Touch it I say!

[In a flash of light, Sarah touches the spindle with the middle finger. Just this moment, the fairies appear in the door]

Fairies: Oh!

Madelynne: Well, crap.

Maleficent: You poor simple fools. Thinking you could defeat me, me, the mistress of all evil. Well, here's your precious princess.

[Maleficent turns aside, revealing Sarah laying face-down on the floor. Maleficent disappears, laughing]

Jaclyn: Mac!

Anna: Oh Mac! Oh, I'll never forgive myself.

Jaclyn: We're all to blame.

[They start crying over Sarah's motionless body. the camera turns to the window, where the last rays of the setting sun shine in deep red]
[Inside the castle. King Albert and the Queen sit on their throne. Frank approaches Albert]

Frank: Albert, there's something important I have to tell you.

Albert: Not now, Frank.

Frank: But it's about Harmon.

Albert: Harmon, oh yes, of course, Harmon, why, where is the boy?

Frank: That's what I'm telling to tell you.

Albert: Well, send for him immediately!

Frank: But ...

[A fanfare sounds outside]

Announcer: The sun has set; make ready to welcome your princess!

[The crowd before the castle cheers and fireworks are shot into the sky. The camera turns towards the tower]

[The fairies are crying at a bed they have placed Sarah on, a red rose in her hand. They go onto the balcony and see the cheering crowd]

Jaclyn: Poor King Albert and the Queen.

Madelynne: They'll be heartbroken when they find out.

Anna: They're not going to.

Madelynne: They aren't?

Anna: We'll put them all to sleep, until Mac awakens. Come!

[They fly around the castle, putting everyone to sleep. Anna has just put the spell on Frank. While drifting off to sleep, he says ...]

Frank: Well, just been talking to Harmon. Seems he's fallen in love with some peasant girl.

Anna: Peasant girl? Yes, yes? The peasant girl, who is she? Where did he meet her?

Frank: Just some peasant girl he met.

Anna: Where, where?

Frank: Once upon a dream. [finally falls asleep]

Anna: Once upon a dr... Mac! Prince Harmon! [flies to Jaclyn and Madelynne] Come on, we've got to get back to the cottage!

[The fairies hurriedly start towards back the cottage]