"Papa can you tell me the story of the fairies again?" a little girl with raven black hair and shimmering blue sapphire eyes asked as she sat in front of her father who sat on the plush couch.
"Which one princess?" her father asked with a smile.
"The one who cursed Mama," the little princess answered, her eyes widening to the eyes her father could not resist saying "yes" to even if he tried. What can he say, she's his little princess.
"Alright, come here," her father said with a sigh as he helped her onto the couch and onto his lap. "Once upon a time..."
Once upon a time, there was a fairy by the name of Honerva. She was different than the other fairies who had sparkling wings and wands and were loved by all the humans who came upon them. Honerva's wings were black as a raven's and while they were beautiful, they weren't like the other fairies and so she was picked on and alienated from the others. Her parents weren't around because they had been killed in her early years and she was left alone. Despite this, she had a kind heart and would never hold anger in her heart.
One day she happened upon another fairy during one of her flights around the magical borders of the fairy grove. She was surprised to find that he had wings just like hers, only, one was injured and bleeding. As she approached, he tried to use his magic against her but she held her hands out in a surrendering motion and slowly approached.
"I'm not going to hurt you," she said with a soft smile as she knelt down beside the fairy. His eyes widened to find that she had wings just like him.
"Your wings, they're like mine," he said as she ripped the bottom of her skirt and gently wrapped the cloth around the wound to try and stop the bleeding.
"I thought I was the only one with wings like mine," Honerva said as she leaned back and folded her wings in.
"You and I both," the man said with a smile. "I'm Zarkon."
"Honerva," she answered with a smile. From that day on, a friendship was born, and soon something else.
A year later it was brought to everyone's attention that King Kenneth was leading an army towards the grove. The three queen's of the fairies named Nyma, Shay, and Florona met the king and his army on the edge of the barrier.
"King Kenneth," the trio said with a bow. Honerva watched from the trees with the other fairies as the king bowed to the trio as he jumped down from his horse.
"What brings you here My King?" Nyma asked as she was the leader of the trio.
"I caught one of your fairies sneaking into the castle and trying to murder not only my wife but my son as well," Kenneth said as his men dragged a chained Zarkon forwards, heavy chains wrapped around him, mostly around his wings. Honerva's eyes widened and she forced herself not the glare as she heard the other fairies whispering amongst themselves.
"As you know, this is treason against the crown and is punishable by death," Kenneth said as he glared down at Zarkon who was forced to kneel by the guards.
"Your Majesty," Florona said as she spoke up, her eyes landing on the raven winged fairy before meeting the king's. "I can assure you that this is not one of our fairies."
"Florona is right, while he frequents the grove, he has never been associated with us," Shay said as she glared at the fairy.
"With that in mind Your Majesty," Nyma said as she motioned to Zarkon with her hand. "Because he is not under our rule, you are free to do with him as you see fit."
"Very well then," Kenneth said as he turned to his captain with a nod. "The prisoner is to die at once for treason against the crown."
"NOO!" a voice screamed out as a blur of raven feathers whipped past Nyma, Shay, and Florona and knelt down in front of Zarkon, in the king's way. "Please Your Majesty, there must be another way."
"And who are you?" Kenneth asked as he eyed Honerva's wings.
"Honerva, Your Majesty," she answered with her head held low.
"Well, Honerva, I kindly ask that you step aside or else you will be killed as well for being associated with this man," Kenneth said with a glare as he snapped his fingers and Honerva was dragged to the side by a few of his guards.
"Kolivan," Kenneth said to his captain who nodded and pulled out his sword, raising it above his head to strike down. That was when Honerva pushed the guards away with her wings and flew in front of Zarkon, the back of her wings exposed. As Kolivan swung down, his swords slashed her wings which caused a cry of pain to escape the fairy.
Her wings couldn't take the pain of being slashed by the iron of the sword and they cracked off and fell to the ground with a thump. The fairies' eyes widened in shock but anger soon replaced it as they saw Zarkon was still alive. Honerva shakily pulled back and stared into the teary eyes of Zarkon.
"Honerva…" he said softly, tears slipping down his cheeks.
"Don't worry," she said through the twitching pain in her back. "I'll be fine."
However, she failed to see Kenneth had snuck behind Zarkon and before she could warn him, a sword of iron was plunged through his chest, right where his heart sat. Honerva's eyes widened and she pulled back in shock.
"No..." she whispered softly with tears in her eyes.
"Honerva," Zarkon choked out, blood spilling past his lips. "I…love…you," he said before his eyes slipped shut and he slumped to the ground. Kenneth turned to the fairy queen's and wiped the blood off his sword with his cloak.
"I trust you can take care of the rest?" he said, though, it was more of a demand more than a question.
"Of course Your Majesty," the trio said with a bow. The king nodded and climbed back onto his horse, motioning for his men to follow him back to the kingdom.
Honerva sat unmoving in front of the dead body of her love. Her heart was crushed, she paid no mind to her wings who were wilting away, the black feathers being caught in the wind and blowing away.
"Honerva," Nyma said as she approached with Shay and Flrona behind her. Honerva looked up and glared into her queen's eyes. "You knew didn't you, what he was going to do."
"Of course I knew," Honerva said with a scoff. "Kenneth killed Zarkon's family and he wanted revenge."
"Why didn't you warn us?" Shay asked with a shake of her head. "Do you hate us that much to not tell us what was going to happen?"
"Why would I? "Honerva spat out with a roll of her eyes. "I know what it's like to be lonely, I know what it's like to be angry and tossed aside."
"You helped him sneak into the palace and you helped him find the rooms of the queen and her son," Florona said softly as she pieced the pieces together.
"And I'd do it again," Honerva said as she glanced down at Zarkon's body, her hands clutching onto his hand which had slowly grown cold.
"Then you leave us with no choice," Nyma said as she turned to her sister who nodded in agreement.
'For crimes against not only King Kenneth and his family but your own people as well," Florona said as her wand lit up as she pointed it at Honerva.
"We, the protectors and rulers of the fairy kingdom," Shay added on as she to pointed her wand at Honerva which lit up as well.
"Herby banish you from the grove and expel you from ever returning," Nyma said as she pointed her wand at Honerva. The three wands casting a bright light that struck Honerva as with a burst of light, she was gone.
Honerva opened her eyes and found herself in the ruins of an ancient castle, long since destroyed and abandoned. She stood on shaky legs and looked around. From where she stood, she could see King Kenneth's castle in the far distance.
Anger filled her as she remembered what had happened only minutes ago. Purple magic swirled around her hands and a plan formed in her head. If King Kenneth had hurt her by taking the one thing she loved the most, then she would return the favour.
From that day on, Honerva changed into something much darker and sinister. She changed her name to Haggar and became the ruler of the Dark Kingdom, her magic darker and stronger than that of the fairies of light. She sat in the darkness, waiting, for the perfect opportunity for revenge.
"Then what happened?" the little girl asked with a yawn.
"Then the little princess was tucked into bed and dreamt of meeting a handsome prince to take her away," a voice called out as he entered the room. The girl turned and a smile formed on her face and she climbed off the couch and ran to the figure.
"Mama!" she called out as her mother gathered her in his arms.
"Hello, princess, shouldn't you be in bed by now?" he asked raising an eyebrow at his daughter.
"Papa was telling me stories," the little girl said pointing at her father who playfully glared at his daughter.
"Was he now? I thought we agreed on no stories past bedtime Lance," he said glaring softly at his husband.
"She asked, I have no control over it," Lance said with a shrug of his shoulders. "Besides, she was waiting for you Keith."
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting princess," Keith said with a soft smile. His meeting with his father and the council had kept him busier than he thought he would be, he only just got out of his meeting.
"Can you tell me the story of you and Papa?" the little girl asked with her puppy dog eyes.
"Sofie, it's late," Keith said with a sigh as he walked over to his daughter's bed and tucked her in.
"Please, Mama," Sofie asked with a pout on her face. Keith sighed and shook his head.
"Fine," he said glancing over to his husband who also smiled and walked over, pulling a chair up beside the bed as Keith laid down beside their daughter.
"Once upon a time…"