Sleeping Beauty: The Story of Aerith
Summary: After being snubbed by the royal family, a malevolent wizard places a curse on a princess which can only a prince can break, along with the help of three good witches.
Original story by Charles Perreault
Final Fantasy VII and its characters by Square Enix
Once upon a time, there was a king named Gast Faremis who lived in a tall palace with his beautiful Queen Ifalna. They were good and kind and were loved by their subjects. Nearby, in another kingdom, Gongaga, lived their friend, King Martin Fair.
The two realms had a peaceful existence - almost perfect - except for one problem.
King Martin had a son, Prince Zack. But alas, King Gast and his wife had no children.
One day, to everyone's joy, Queen Ifalna gave birth to a baby girl. She was called Aerith.
Bells rang throughout the two kingdoms. The glad news was spread all over the land. The King and Queen ordered a great feast. Everyone was invited to celebrate their daughter's birth.
On the day of the feast, crowds of people began to arrive at the palace.
Ladies in silken gowns, lords in furs and velvet, and knights in bright armor, entered through the palace gates.
Everyone wanted to see the Princess.
King Martin and his son Prince Zack were the first to see the baby Princess. "Congratulations, she's a beautiful child!" King Martin cried.
Not only was he happy for his friend, but he was also thinking about the future. The two Kings had been hoping that one day their kingdoms would be united.
Now, this dream would come true. When Princess Aerith grew up, she and Prince Zack would be married. The little Prince looked down at the baby...it was hard to believe that this little thing would one day be his wife.
Suddenly, a shimmering silver light filled the room. Three good witches appeared wearing pointed hats and waving magic wands. These were the three good witches who kept watch over the kingdom of Midgar: Elmyra Gainsborough, Marielle, and Aimee.
Although they were usually invisible, the King knew that he could count on their help in times of difficulty. The King had invited them to his daughter's christening, and each witch brought a gift. Elmyra was the first to speak. "Princess Aerith, I give you the gift of beauty."
She waved her wand and a shimmering clouds of silver sparks filled the room.
Next came Marielle. "I will give you the joy of music," she said. "You shall have the most beautiful voice in the realm." As she lifted her wand, a chours of birds flew above the cradle.
Finally, it was Aimee's turn to give her present to the Princess. She had a very kind heart, but was a bit forgetful. "Prince. Oh sorry! I mean, Princess, I shall give you... Oh dear! Now what was it that I was going to give her?" she said, stopping to think. But before she continues, a great gust of wind bursts open the windows. A blinding light entered the room. Everyone cried out in horror.
A terrifyling flash of lightning announced the appearance of a tall man with muscular build. His long silver hair has bangs parted to either side of his face and green eyes with bright cyan cat-like pupils. Dressed in a long black coat with silver pauldrons, black boots, and black trousers and holding a long Masamune sword, he looked like the devil himself.
A gasp spread across the room. "It's Sephiroth, the evil wizard!" murmured the crowd. "What's he's doing here?"
"I am here because someone forgot to invite me!" he screamed. "Isn't that so, Your Majesty?" he demanded. "But I have not forgotten to bring a gift. I too have something special for your daughter. You shall pay for your neglect, my dear King Gast," he said with a wicked laugh.
Pointing to the baby, Sephiroth cired, "Princess Aerith, you have received many gifts. Use them well, for you will not have them for long. Before your eighteenth birthday, you will prick on a spindle and you will die."
People gasped in horror. Cries were heard throughout the large room.
King Gast could barely contain his anger. However, he knew that his daugher's life was in danger. He calmly spoke to Sephiroth. "Milord, what you say is true. I did forget to invite. It is I who is guilty - not the child. Look at that innocent baby. She has done you no harm. Please, take pity on her."
Silence reigned over the room. The people held their breaths, waiting for Sephiroth to reply.
"It's too late, Your Majesty. This will teach you that I never forget and I never forgive."
The King turned to his soldiers. "Seize him!! Put him in chains!" he ordered.
But before the soldiers could touch him, Sephiroth was gone. He'd vanished in a burst of flames. The unhappy Queen Ifalna clutched the baby in her arms.
Aimee broke the stunned silence. "Calm down, everyone. I shall do what I can to help. If only I could remember what it was... Oh yes, now I know. I cannot undo the evil spell, but I shall soften it a little." The kind witch waved her magic wand. "Princess Aerith, if you prick your finger before your eighteenth birthday - you will not die. Instead, you will fall into a deep sleep. A true love's kiss will awaken you. And then you shall live happily ever after."
King Martin tried to comfort his friends. "Listen to me. I know how we can protect the Princess. We must burn all the spinning wheels. If there are not spinning wheels, there will be spindles and no needles to harm the Princess."
"Hurrah!" shouted the crowd. Messengers were sent to every town and village. Thousands of spinning wheels were collected and brought to the palace. A large bonfire was lit. Nothing remainded of the spinning wheels but ashes. Princess Aerith would be safe.
However, the three good witches were not so sure of this solution. They knew Sephiroth too well. It wasn't easy to fight him. Together, they decided that something more had to be done.
Aerith must be taken far away from the palace. She must be taken to a secret place.
"We'll hide her in the forest," said Marielle. "She'll be safe with us."
"I know," said Elmyra, "we'll dress up as peasant women. She can be my orphan niece. No one will find her."
With a wave of her wand, the witches were transformed into peasant women. But now the most difficult part - to convince the King and Queen.
And indeed, it wasn't easy.
"But then it will be as if we didn't have a child," said King Gast.
"Yes, but just think. If she's with us, she'll live after she is 18. We promise to look after her and bring her back," replied Aimee.
"Where will you hide her?" asked Queen Ifalna.
"In the woodcutter's cottage in the middle of the forest. Sephiroth will never find her there."
And so late one night, three figures were seen leaving the palace. Watching them were King Gast and Queen Ifalna, sad to see their daughter leave.
Several days later, the three women arrived at their destination. The woodcutter who had lived there had been dead for many years. The house was empty. "Not much of a place for a Princess," sighed Aimee.
Elmyra scolded her. "Remember, we are here to hide her. You must never say the word 'Princess' again. From now on, we are simple peasants and she is my niece."
"What do we call her?" asked Marielle.
It took several moments before they could decide on a name. "Ronna Gainsborough!" said Elmyra. "She is like a wildflower, lost in the forest." And so, the three women looked after the little Princess. They gave her all the love and care of real parents.
The years passed. The brunette baby had grown into a beautiful young girl, with a smile always on her lovely face. She was as pretty as a wildflower, blooming in the middle of the forest.
Soon she would be eighteen. It was impossible to think that nearly eighteen years had passed since they came to live in the forest. The thought of giving her back to her parents made the witches a bit sad. "We mustn't be selfish," said Marielle. "Think of her parents. We've had her all these years. They shall be overjoyed to see their daughter again."
Someone else was counting the days, months, and years that passed. Sephiroth too, was watching the time go by. He had searched high and low for the Princess. His soldiers always returned with the same reply, "No Princess."
On this day, sparks flew from his eyes, with the Masamune began to shake. "You imbeciles! Worhtless creatures! I'll have to find her myself. Beware, Aerith, I shall find you!" screamed the evil Sephiroth.
Sephiroth went to see his faithful friend - the raven. "You, Raven, are not like the others. Use your sharp eyes and wits! I'm sure that you can find her," he said, caressing her feathers. "Fly away! Find the Princess!"
The Raven flew high into the sky until it was no more than a speck. It dived and swept over every town and village. If anyone could find Princess Aerith, it would be the Raven.
At the cottage, the three witches were making plans for Ronna Gainsborough's birthday. They wanted to surprise her, so they sent her out into the forest to pick wild berries.
Marielle was going to take a birthday cake. She looked up a recipe in her big book. There were so many kinds of cakes. "Ah! Here's one that sounds delicious!" she said and began mixing and stirring.
Elmyra and Aimee were going to make a dress. "You stand and I'll try this cloth on you," said Elmyra, as she began winding cloth around poor Aimee.
While the three witches were busy at the cottage, Ronna Gainsborough wandered through the forest, picking wild berries.
Her friends, the owl, bluebirds, robins, the rabbits, the chipmunks, and the squirrel joined her. When her basket was full, Ronna Gainsborough stopped and sang a song that her aunts had taught her.
Ronna Gainsborough did not know that the sound of her singing had carried through the woods. A young horseman stopped when he heard her sweet voice. "Who is singing that pretty song?" wondered the young man. "She can't be far from here."
Ronna Gainsborough had begun to daydream and dance while she sang her love song. She did not hear the young man come up behind her.
"Shall we dance?" he asked, holding her arms.
Ronna Gainsborough turned around. "Who are you?" she asked. This was the man of her dreams.
"You friend, if you'll let me," said the young man.
While the two young people danced, the Owl said to his companions, "Do you know who that is? That's Prince Zack Fair, King Martin's son."
"Oh! I bet he doesn't know that he's dancing with a real princess," said the squirrel.
"Shush!" said the Owl. "No one is supposed to say that word!"
It was getting late. Ronna Gainsborough remembered the wild berries and her waiting aunts.
"I must go now," she said and started to run away.
"Wait!" called the Prince. "I don't even know your name or where you live."
But Ronna Gainsborough had been told by her aunts never to speak to strangers. She didn't want to disobey them any more than she had already.
Back at the cottage, the three aunts were in a panic.
"Get me out of here!!" cried Aimee, who was all tied up in the dress.
"I can't help you!" cried Marielle. "Look! The cake is starting to fall!"
The three aunts were desperate. Ronna Gainsborough would return any minute and everything was a mess!
Elmyra rubbed her chin. "I know. We'll use our magic wands. After all, this is a special occasion."
"Why of course! I'd almost forgotten we still had them," said Marielle.
Three waves of the magic wand and a beautiful gown was made!
"I was never much of a cook anyway," said Marielle, as she let her wand do the work.
"Now that's what I call a magic recipe," she said as a scrumptious-looking cake appeared.
There was just one slight problem - the color of the dress. Aimee thought that gree was the best. "It will match her eyes!" she said as she waved her wand.
"NO! NO! NO! Red is better. It will go with her rosy cheeks," said Elmyra.
"I said green!" cried Aimee as she shot off sparks from her wand.
The witches began sending sparks of color all over the house. They had forgotten that they were supposed to be careful and not use their magic.
Sparks of color flew out the chimney. The evil raven was flying by and spotted the cottage.
She swooped down to have a closer look.
"Caw! Caw! Magic!" she croaked. "I must go tell Sephiroth," she said, as she flew off to inform the wicked wizard.
Hearing Ronna Gainsborough's footsteps outside, the witches stopped fighting.
"Surprise!" they shouted as she entered the room. Ronna Gainsborough was delighted. What a beautiful gown and the cake look delicious!
"We decided to celebrate your birthday one day early," said Elmyra. "Tomorrow is a very speical day. You will go to meet your parents - the King and Queen."
"Yes, you are not Ronna Gainsborough," said Marielle.
"Your real name is Princess Aerith and your parents live in a palace far away from here."
"I, too, have something to tell you," said Aerith, and she told them about the young man in the forest.
Early the next morning, the witches and the Princess set out for the palace. Princess Aerith hid beneath a long cloak. As she walked, she thought of the young man whom she'd met in the forest.
The witches thought of that day eighteen years ago when they had crept through the woods with a baby in their arms.
At the palace, the two kings were beginning to celebrate when the Prince told his father that he could not marry Princess Aerith. His heart was lost to the young girl in the forest.
Aerith had secretly entered the palace. She was to wait for her parents to come and find her. While she waited, she explored her room. She saw a little door.
Curious, she opened it and stepped into another room. There was someone inside...a tall man dressed in black. "Come here, my lovely Princess," said the strange man. "I have a gift for you. Look at this beautiful spinning wheel. Go ahead! Touch it - it's yours!"
Aerith put out her hand to touch the beautiful wood and her finger was pricked by the needle. All at once, she fell to the floor.
"I have my revenge!" cried Sephiroth as he stared down at the fallen Princess. "Now all I have to do is capture the Prince. He mustn't find her and give her the kiss that will save her." Sephiroth disappeared in a puff of smoke.
It was the three witches who found Aerith. "We must do something quickly!" said Elmyra. "We can't let her poor parents find her like this."
"Yes, and we must find the Prince before Sephiroth does," said Marielle.
"But Aerith told us that she was in love with the man in the forest. What are we going to do?" asked Aimee. "Remember, only her true love's kiss can save her."
"What's next?" asked Elmyra.
"If Aerith loves the man in the forest, we'll have to find him - whoever he is," said Marielle.
And so, Elmyra, Marielle, and Aimee went off to search in the forest. Soon, they met the Owl. After they had told him what happened, the wise Owl said, "I know who the young man is that Aerith loves. It is Prince Zack Fair. And he's on his way to the woodcutter's cottage to look for her."
Indeed the Prince was hunting. He had told his father that he would not marry the Princess. He was in love with a peasant girl who lived in the forest.
"This must be her house," he said when he saw the cottage. He could hear someone moving inside. He knocked on the door.
The door swung open and the Prince stepped into the room. Before he knew what was happening, a dozen creatures jumped on him.
The Prince was powerless. They were too fast. Soon, he was tied up and couldn't move. The creatures led him into another room.
A tall man dressed in black was waiting for him. "The one you're looking for is not here," he said in a dry voice. "You'll never escape from where I'm going to put you. Take him away!" commanded Sephiroth, who then vanished in a flash of light.
Seeing smoke coming from their cottage, the witches rushed to the scene. "Someone's been here!" cried Elmyra.
"I smell smoke - Sephiroth was here. And look! Here is the Prince's cap!" cried Aimee.
There was no time to waste. There was only one place to look for the Prince - the castle of Hollow Bastion.
Zack was chained to the walls of the deppest darkest dungeon in the castle. No one would be able to find him. "Why are you keeping me?" he demanded of Sephiroth.
The evil man smiled and said, "I've known you for many years. Don't remember, eighteen years ago..."
When he had finished, telling him of his spell, he added, "Your little peasant girl is Princess Aerith. You shall never marry her now!" Then he left the dungeon.
The Prince strained at the chains - but they were too strong. "I must escape from here," he said.
At that moment, three shapes flew in through the bars. It was the three witches.
"We are Ronna Gainsborough's godmothers," said Elmyra.
"No, not Ronna Gainsborough. Aerith," said Marielle.
"Look, this is no time to argue," said Elmyra, who waved her wand and broke the chains holding the Prince.
"Here, take this Hero's Shield," instructed Marielle. With a flash, a shield appeared. "And this Buster Sword!" she commanded, as a sword flew into his hand.
"Go to the palace. The Princess is there waiting for your kiss."
The Prince, armed with his shield and sword, rushed off to find his Princess. However, Sephiroth saw him leave. "He has escaped me, but not for long," he screamed. "I shall wait for him at the palace."
Nearing the palace, the Prince found himself surrounded by enormous hedge of thorns.
'This is Sephiroth's work,' he thought as he swung his sword and hacked at the thorns.
After fighting his way through the nasty thorns, the Prince reached the bridge to the palace.
A heavy silence surrounded him. Just then, an enormous gust of wind blew toward him. It was a burning wind, violent and evil-smelling.
Suddenly, a large dark shadow appeared through the mist. It was an enomous black dragon.
"Sephiroth!!" cried Zack, recognizing his enemy.
A wicked laugh sounding like thunder came from the dragon.
"Now you shall deal with me, O Prince!" he shrieked. "And all the powers of Darkness!!"
The dragon opened its enormous mouth and out roared flames and poison gas. Quickly, Zack held up his magic shield. The flames could not touch him.
The horrible monster came closer. It smashed everything in its path and spat flames as it advanced toward the Prince.
Zack took up his Buster Sword. He swung back his arm and threw the sword with all his might. The steel flew straight into the dragon's heart. A might crash was heard as it fell, dead.
Now that the path was free, the Prince rushed past the sleeping guards, guests, and servants, into the palace. There in a bedroom, lay the beautiful young girl from the forest.
"So this is Princess Aerith," said the Prince softly as he looked at her. He bent down and kissed her. Aerith opened her eyes. "You're the man from the forest," she said.
"And you are Princess Aerith," replied the Prince, smiling.
Meanwhile, the witches were busy awakening everyone. No one was aware that any time had passed. The two Kings continued their conversation as if nothing had occurred.
"I'm sure that the two young people will like each other," said King Martin.
"Yes, of course," King Gast agreed. "It's time for Aerith to arrive."
"Mother! Father!" a sweet voice called out.
There before them stood their daughter.
"Aerith! My lovely child!" cried Queen Ifalna. "Look at you! You're a beautiful young girl!" She ran to hug her daughter. What a joy it was for these three, parents and child, to be reunited after so long.
Zack introduced Aerith to his fathter.
"We've already met," laughed the jolly King. "Although, we she was only a time bit of a thing!"
Then, blushing with pleasure, Zack and Aerith announced their plans. They wanted to be married.
The two Kings were overjoyed. Their wishes would now finally come true.
A great joyful feast was given in honor of the Prince and Princess. But whenever the dancing music stopped, the three voices could be heard chattering away. They were the voices of Elmyra Gainsborough, Marielle, and Aimee, for although the witches had become invisible, nothing could keep them from watching over their precious Princess.
And so, Sleeping Beauty and her one true loved lived happily ever after.
The End.