[Once upon a time, there lived a grieving King and Queen who wished for the most wonderful gift in the world, a child. And their prayers were answered as the Queen gave birth to a beautiful princess.]
The narration part gave way to the actors that were slowly revealed by the sliding curtain.
[Overjoyed, the King, decided to throw a party to celebrate the birth of their daughter. The news traveled across the whole country and all the people came to see their new princess.]
In the center of the stage the King and the Queen were sitting on their throne surrounded by a few extras that played the common people.
[But also three fairies that were named the princess' godmothers by the King.]
The three fairies made their entrance on the stage.
The King rose up from the throne and raised both his arms up. "Today, we will enjoy ourselves to our heart's content as this day is marked by the birth of my luminous child!"
The Queen took the baby doll that slept in the cradle placed between the two thrones in her arms and stepped beside the King; both of them bore happy faces when looking at the baby.
"Look at our princess! She's a gift sent from Heaven!" The extras hailed the baby princess and their majesties.
"How right you are, my King." Three soft voices sprung amidst the common people that gave way to them, presenting the three sky blue fairies bowing courteously to the royals. "To celebrate such a happy event, each of us will bless the little princess."
The fairies advanced to the baby in the Queen's arms. The first fairy jiggled the stick upon the baby princess's face.
"Princess, your beauty and your grace shall bedazzle the entire world."
She stepped back and the second took her turn.
"Your voice shall be as melodious as a nightingale."
In her turn, the third fairy stood before the baby princess but suddenly the light went off. An awkward evil laugh pierced the darkness, heavy steps echoed as the stage slowly lightened again and the form of the Witch, donned in black, appearing from behind the curtain spoiled the feast.
"Isn't this a charming party, I see here? "
Ritsu gave a sidelook at the public and sighed internally, feeling a bit nervous to be under the spotlight as an actress and not as a pianist.
"Oh, my! So everyone is gathered here..." Just like during the rehearsal, she mingled within the crowd and made her way to the throne and teased the extras by grazing them with her fingertips and forcing herself to grin spitefully. "Your people..." Then reaching the two thrones, she placed herself at the opposite end of the three fairies, letting the public have a clear view of each character. "And those hideous fairies...Everyone is here to celebrate that little princess, «EVERYONE» exCEpt «ME»!"
Her intonation went off pitch at the end, she had forced a little too much on her voice as she coughed faintly. While she turned to the King and Queen, she cleared her throat and followed up with her lines.
"May I ask their majesties why?"
"Asaka-chan is playing the Witch?!" Momoi exclaimed, trying to keep a low voice. "What a surprise...!"
"I was right after all. There was nothing to worry about her. She's doing alright."
Completely ignoring Midorima's comment, the pink haired girl stared in wide shock at her sweet friend acting like a spiteful witch.
"Eeeeh... I knew something was wrong when she suggested the bet earlier. Asa-chin is revealing her true nature." Murasakibara noted, eating up his sixth pocky box while nonchalantly watching the play like he would a movie.
"What are you saying, Murasakibara-kun!" Momoi elbowed him gently, leaving the giant indifferent.
"I noticed as well. She had that side in her." Midorima added in a dead serious tone, folding his arms after he finished cleaning his glasses.
"Even Midorima!"
"She looks nothing like a witch!" Aomine grunted, only to get inquiring glances from them whereas Momoi nodded, cheerfully supporting him.
"That's because you are unsure of what she had had schemed against Akashi to make him have lunch with her." The tanned boy gaped, allowing Midorima to continue. "She even dragged Murasakibara into it, and she managed to rob Akashi's wallet under his nose."
"Seriously?! " Aomine was the last one to be informed of that event. "When did that happen?"
"M-Midorin, you're twisting the facts. It was Murasakibara-kun who stole from Akashi-kun."
"Remember the day Akashi doubled Murasakibara's training menu? It was that day."
"And she didn't even get punished by Aka-chin later." Murasakibara added dejectedly.
His blue eyes were wide open when he shifted his gaze to the plain black witch who was laughing in an odd manner.
"She has more guts than I thought...!"
"Ahaha! Your majesties, I'm quite offended by your mistake." Ritsu feigned a pained expression, rubbing her cheek on the long wand measuring more than half of her body. "Forgetting a powerful witch like me, how regrettable!"
"W-We humbly apologize!" said the Queen dreading an ill turn from the Witch. "But now that you're here, let's enjoy ourselves, dear Witch."
The Witch faced their Majesties with a smirk. "Of course I'm here, invited or not, for I would not miss such a magnificent party for anything in the world. And to show proof of my goodwill, I shall bestow a beautiful gift upon your little princess! A gift even a princess could only dream of!"
She advanced in a slow and graceful movement, making the King and the Queen back away keeping the baby out of the Witch's claw.
"G-Guards!" The King shouted, raising his arm as he commanded. "Protect the princess!"
"Your Majesties are extremely rude to refuse a gift." She feigned a pout just like Honda had told her to do during the rehearsal.
Two guards came hustling down the stage interposing themselves between the Witch and their Majesties. Again the Witch was offended and laughed it up.
"How laughable! Do you think two mere guards can defeat me?"
"I don't see two guards, dear Witch, but five." The King claimed confidently when three other guards cropped up onto the stage behind Ritsu's back and surrounded her. "Chase her out!"
Suddenly, for special effects, the light stage flickered accompanied with a thunderclap. The stage went back to normal. The Witch had struck down all the guards with her magic.
"Well then..." With no more obstacles, she placed herself in the downstage facing the public. "I shall repay your ingratitude! Heed my words – all of you! – and commit them to heart!"
She stretched her arms up then paused briefly for the dramatic effect.
"On her sixteenth birthday, the princess shall prick her finger with a spindle and...SHE SHALL DIE! Nothing can undo my curse! AHAhaaaaHAHaaa~!"
A thunder clapped again, the light blinked and the Witch left the stage as her evil laugh continued to echo.
Backstage, Honda welcomed her back with sparkling eyes.
"Ah, my Witch! You were so lovely, though your evil laughs were a bit odd to listen to, especially the one at the end."
"Aha...Lovely...Not terrifying?" She asked shyly, removing the hood from her head.
"No!" She flatly said. "You're a soft heart!"
The backstage team giggled, Honda even got a smile out of Akashi resting in a corner with Himeno still glued him.
Honda slapped her on the shoulder to cheer her up and returned to watch the play.
"Asaka, you have to hurry changing yourself for the next scene!" a classmate urged, bringing her the next outfit she had to wear.
"Do not grieve my King, though my power alone cannot undo the Witch's curse, I shall not let the princess die." The third fairy walked up to the baby doll and jiggled her stick above it. "Princess, on your sixteenth birthday, you shall prick your finger on the spindle but you shall not die. You shall fall into a deep slumber and shall be awakened by an act of true love."
"You have our deepest gratitude, kind fairies." the King said as he was rejoined by the Queen faking to wipe tears.
"My King, what a dreadful day. I can't imagine what will happen to our cute princess."
"I shall not let that spiteful Witch harm our child!"
After the King's last claim, the stage darkened as all the extras and the fairy cleared the stage while the backstage assistants placed the spindle on the left side.
[And thus, in order to prevent the curse from happening, the King decreed the prohibition of spindle use in the kingdom and the burning of all those ill-fated instruments...However.]
The spotlight flashed on a grown Princess, stepping on stage for the first time, followed by two servants. Himeno took a glimpse at the public, then with a proud smile she held her head high and walked with a model-like gait, taking the stage for a podium. Honda, who watched her first appearance, facepalmed as she had previously and countlessly instructed Himeno to have a more princess-like attitude instead of her usual self. But the girl carried out her instructions in her own style to Honda's great exasperation as the supposedly humble princess became a true haughty princess.
[Those measures did not change the course of fate. The curious sixteen years old Princess would encounter her fate. Very soon.]
"Princess, Your Majesties told us not wander off in this part of the castle." The first servant said running after the Princess.
"It is not safe here. We must go back at once." The second tagged on. "Or Your Majesties will get worried."
The Princess turned a deaf ear. "I'm intrigued by the place. It is the very first time I came here. We will go further!"
"Princess! I say we cannot!"
Himeno stopped her track and turned slowly to the servants.
"Who are you to tell me what I must do? If you don't want to follow me, then leave me alone! Cowards should stay back!"
She turned tail and hastened her track to exit the stage, the servants as well. The stage emptied while a shady old woman appeared and sat near the spindle when the princess' shrilling voice broke the silence.
"Ah! I shall inform Father about those useless servants. They dared to leave a Princess like ME in a filthy place like this!" She spoke aloud with a very high pitch voice mimicking surprise by gaping and gesturing in exaggerated manners. "They are better off finding me quickly and do a correct job for once!"
"Man, this princess is already damn annoying." Aomine yawned looking the Princess strutting on the stage.
"Their choice for the Princess is very interesting..."
"What a miscast." Midorima deplored. "But what I don't understand is their choice of making the Princess so arrogant."
"Well, she adds some freshness to the cast. In a sense, she's not the stereotypical sweet and naive princess like in fairytale!"
"...I still prefer the sweet one."
Momoi, Murasakibara and Aomine gasped altogether at his revelation, gawking at the dead serious face of their green haired friend. Sensing all their gazes on him, Midorima shrugged and added another comment to avoid any remarks from his comrades.
"...Instead of a conceited princess. Don't misunderstand. I'm not saying I like meek girls."
"Ah. Mido-chin is trying to justify himself, meaning it's actually the truth."
"Murasakibara, I'd appreciate it if you kept your comment to yourself."
"Aaaw~, Midorin don't be shy!" Momoi poked his cheek teasingly. "One day, you'll find your princess!"
Midorima almost choked at the «princess» word.
"For your information, I don't need a princess."
"Baa...After being carried like a princess, it's true you don't need one anyway." Aomine yawned again before Midorima's lucky item whacked him in the back of the head.
"I dare you to do that again!" Aomine provoked his teammate who took him by his words. "You're dead, Midorima."
"Right back at you." Midorima said.
The two stood up from their chairs right in the middle of the play, turning the public's eye away from the stage and onto them. Momoi gestured, urging them to sit back down as they inadvertently drew more and more people's attention to their stupid quarrel.
"I'll beat the crap out of you at basketball."
"We'll see―"
"HEEEEEYYY! YOU!" At the princess' roar, Midorima and Aomine shifted their attention to the stage where Himeno stood downstage infuriated to have her moment of glory ruined by two idiots. Momoi buried herself in the chair, embarrassed to be between them. "YEAH, YOU TWO! JUST SHUT THE HELL UP! ARE YOU RETARDED OR WHAT TO RUIN MY TIME OF GLORY!?"
"AH?!" Aomine thundered back as the princess's cocky attitude got on his nerves. "WHY DON'T YOU JUST IGNORE US?"
"BECAUSE EVERYONE HAS TO LOOK AT ME! NOT YOU, MORONS!"
"MAYBE THEY HAD ENOUGH OF YOUR BAD ACTING?!"
"That's enough. I won't allow such rude behavior during a play."
Through the narrator's mic, a curt voice rung out, immediately casting a chill over the gymnasium. The whole colorful bunch froze as their eyes were glued to the stage and shuddered at the possibility of their vice-captain showing up personally to break them up.
"If troubles remain, I shall deal with it myself. Did I make myself clear?"
To their relief, he remained backstage, but a lingering feeling of apprehension fretted them as they were uncertain whether they were out of trouble or not since Akashi might have recognized Aomine's loud voice. So for now, they kept a low profile.
Back on the stage, the princess was in awe after being rescued by her prince that indicated her to continue with a vague tilt of the head. But she didn't react, her black orbs were full of stars thinking he had stood up just for her.
"Ahem!" Ritsu, disguised as the old woman, coughed on purpose in order to awake the Princess lost in wild fantasies.
"What?" She looked away from Akashi and suddenly came down to earth when she faced the public. "Oh, right!"
She cleared her throat and took up her Princess role again like nothing happened.
"Oh, what do I see? I have never seen such a strange object! What is it?" She skipped, all smiles, towards the old woman near the spinning wheel.
"Are you curious, my dear child?"
"Yes, very!" Himeno blinked like crazy trying to show her curiosity.
"This is a spinning wheel. Do you―"
"Let me try it!"
She didn't let Ritsu say her lines properly. Himeno approached the spinning wheel then shoved Ritsu to the side, trampling on her foot in the process. The ashblonde winced, holding her pain back without letting it show on her face.
The Princess took the spin and played with it. Then she came down to the center of the stage scanning the public and pricked her finger on the spin at the moment she thought right.
"Aah!" She staggered here and there, about to faint any minute. "What is happening to me?Aaaaah..." Sadly, she was still standing. Now she was panting like she was affected by some illness. "I feel my body getting cold...W-What is happening to me...!Aaaahh...!" Her whole body quivered. "I don't see anything...! Ooooh..." After three endless minutes, the Princess finally gave her last breath.
Ritsu couldn't do anything but stare at the motionless Princess, her supposed death blew the whole public away. All the crappy acting for that...even an elementary schooler could have done better.
"W-W-W-W-W-W-Wha...?!" Behind the scene, Honda was incapable of putting her feelings about the Princess's atrociously improvised part into words.
The silence prolonged with no one uttering a single word. The Princess' performance had so much impact that Ritsu totally forgot she was on the stage.
"Hey, Asaka! Are you trying to waste my acting talent? Say your lines, damn it!" the princess lying on floor whispered as she turned her face creepily.
Ritsu got herself back under control; she ran to the front and unveiled her head, revealing that she was the Witch to the public.
"T-The Princess has died...! Ahahahaaa! My, what a p-pleasant day!"
The servants stomped their way to the center, discovered the sleeping body of the Princess and cried out in fear while the Witch took great delight in hearing the servants' suffering.
"Good night, Princess! May you rest in peace!"
[On those last words, the Witch vanished, leaving a mourning kingdom behind. The King and the Queen were inconsolable. However, all hope was not lost as the Princess was only sleeping, waiting to be awaken by an act of True Love.]
While the stage was engulfed in darkness, three spotlights illuminated the fairies who were performing their magic by agitatedly waving their sticks in the air.
[Aggrieved by Their Majesties' sadness, the fairies decided to put the whole kingdom in slumber that shall awake the same day as the Princess. For years, they travelled across the world and told the tale of the Sleeping Princess in order to save the Kingdom.]
The spotlight went off for a couple minutes as the backstage team changed the set rapidly. In the background, the castle was erected behind a few trees and bushes made from cardboard.
[A hundred years had passed. The slumbering kingdom almost sunk into oblivion if it weren't for the arrival of a young Prince from the Northern country.]
Ahaha. Akashi as a prince will be saved for later! I'm still writting it.
Well, Asaka manage well as the Witch. But the princess is really something. As I was writting I didn't expect her to turn so bad...
See you soon, everyone! Hope you liked those three chapters!
Feel free to leave some reviews!