He was twelve, dressed in a red jacket trimmed with gold and given a fine pair of shiny black boots and matching trousers to wear with the jacket. It was an outfit that he did not normally wear, in fact he usually dressed very humbly with his smile being the grandest thing he wore. But his aunt had insisted that he look his very best because he would be attending a party at a castle. A party full of royals and nobles.
The kingdom and the castle was indeed very beautiful and splendid. It was something that you wouldn't think was possible even if you saw it for yourself. This was the Kingdom of Sweets. There were meadows consistent of sugar, almonds, and raisins. Peppermint trees that grew orange blossoms and sugar plums, gingerbread houses iced with coconut frosting, Roses of cherry and daffodils of lemon drops. But oddly enough, the boy was only impressed by the creativeness and structure of the kingdom. Unlike most children, he did not possess an instant appetite for all the sugary themed surroundings.
What mostly had him intrigued were all the beautiful clocks and mechanical dolls that were about in the castle. Like Husk, the boy had a knack for gears and mechanics. He loved to open them up and figure out how they worked. He was a clever child, more clever than many adults gave him credit for. But his uncle and aunt could recognize his potential, and they were very proud of him.
"Alastor!" The magician called out. "Alastor where are you? We're on in an hour! We have to get ready!"
"Coming Uncle!"
His nephew had been poking around with one of the castle's many Grandfather Clocks, opening it up and studying the inside with great fascination. It was funny really, he lost track of time while looking at a clock.
"Now you remember how the routine goes right?" The magician said.
"Yes Uncle."
"Good. Now we have to give this performance our all. We're performing for the king and his daughter, and if they like us, we'll be famous."
"I thought we were already famous."
"No your aunt is the famous one. I myself would like to have my own fame. Although there are many perks to being married to a famous actress, especially in bed. Heh, heh."
"Oh Uncle!" The boy called Alastor said with an eye-roll.
"Hey your time will come boy. Your aunt is already looking into finding you a betrothed."
"A be-what?"
"A betrothed."
"What's that?"
"A girl you're going to marry someday."
"What?!"
"Yeah, I know. I told her she was crazy and that you could find your own wife when the time was right, but she's worried that you're going to be one of those um...What did she call them? Cockney boys, who run around with street walker women." He chuckled. "Now there's a way to send your aunt to an early grave. Hook up with a street walker."
"I don't like girls Uncle. At least not that way."
"You know I felt the same way when I was your age, of course that could have been because back then I was an ugly porker, not handsome like you, good thing your gorgeous aunt is the one you share genes with. Anyway, very few boys take an interest in girls when they're as young as you. Give it time."
"Time for what?"
"I don't have time to get into this now. We'll talk about it later. For now, we have an audience to impress." His uncle fixed his tie. "Come, before we go on, we must meet the king and his daughter."
Princess Mimzy was a sight to be hold. Fifteen years old with flawless skin like molten gold and felt like silk, blond hair of rich amber, and teeth like pearls. She was the jewel of the entire kingdom and her father the king was beside himself with pride. Even Alastor, who had yet to develop romantic feelings for the fairer sex, had to admit that she was magnificent. A perfect princess.
"Your majesty." The magician said kneeling before the king and princess who sat regally upon their thrones. "I am most grateful to you for choosing me to serve as entertainment for this most joyous occasion. I give you my word that my performance will be the best you've ever seen."
"I certainly hope so." The king said. "Everything for my daughter must be perfect."
He smiled at the princess, she returned the smile, and then turned her attention to Alastor.
"Who is this adorable boy?" She asked.
"Oh this is my assistant and my nephew Alastor." The magician introduced.
Alastor approached the princess and bowed, greeting her the way his aunt had taught him to always greet royalty.
"Your highness, thank you for the kind invitation to your birthday party. You are every bit as pretty as everyone says you are."
"My what a charming little creature he is." She offered him her hand, he kissed it. "And well brought up I see. If he were older I might consider him for a suitor."
Alastor blushed, Mimzy and her father chuckled.
"My dear girl!" He boasted. "Is she not the most delightful person in the world?"
"A real peach my lord." The magician said. "Now if you'll pardon us, my nephew and I must make ready for the show."
Shortly afterward, one by one, the most exclusive guests arrived at the castle. Lords and ladies, dukes and duchesses, only the most noble of nobility had been invited to this gala and they all brought marvelous gifts for the princess. After they presented their gifts and thanked the king for his invitation, the magician was called to perform on stage. All within the castle awed at the incredible tricks and illusions the man produced from his sleeves and his cape. From nothing, he produced a bouquet flowers for one fair duchess. With a snap his fingers, he made doves come flying from a lord's coat. And for the princess, a gift, a special looking glass that would make her appear young and a beautiful whenever she gazed into it.
"I love it!" Mimzy cried. "It's the best gift ever! I simply adore it!"
Her reaction pleased the king which pleased the magician. For a moment, it looked as though things couldn't be more perfect.
But then suddenly black shadows filled the room and the castle shook with thunder. A hush fell over the crowd as an uninvited guest swept into the hall in a billowing cloud of smoke. Soon gasps of horror were heard when this figure's appearance became visible. She was large, very large, larger than a creature such as herself should be. She was covered head to toe in grey fur, had beady eyes, crooked teeth, and a long tail. Yet she was dressed in regal robes with a crown on her head. Who was she? You may ask. She was the mouse queen. A cold and vindictive monarch who ruled over these huge and greedy mice who would devour anything and everything like pigs. She and her subjects had been a plague to this kingdom for many years, stealing everyone's food and crops. However no one had the courage to rid her from this land because she possessed something that gave her the skills to use dark magic.
"Why was I not invited to the party?!" She screeched. "I am a queen too! I should like my part of the feast!"
You could see the fear in the king's eyes, but he acted brave.
"A thousand apologies." He spoke. "I assumed that you would be away this day. But you are welcome to join us."
The mouse queen didn't believe one word of that lie. But still she smiled and took her place at the feasting table, and another uninvited guest took his place beside her. That was her despicable son Vox, the only creature in the entire kingdom more wretched than his mother. Rude, aggressive, and ill-tempered. Only his own mother could possibly love someone like him.
"Drink, enjoy yourself, my dearest and only son, Vox." She said handing him a chalice full of wine.
He chugged down that wine in a very sloppy and undignified manner. Slurping and lapping, making Alastor particularly sick at the sight.
"What are you looking at?!" He snapped at the boy who's face was expressing pure disgust.
"Nothing." He said. "You just look awfully big for a mouse, and your nose is really long and pointed. Are you sure you're not a rat?"
"Rat?!" Vox cried out enraged. "You dare to call me a rat?!"
The magician quickly grabbed his nephew and pulled him away from the table, making sure the boy wouldn't say or do anything that would offend the spell casting rodents further.
"Bring him back here!" Vox demanded. "I'm gonna bite off his fingers and his toes!"
"Vox please." His mother scolded. "Show a little decorum."
"But Mother-"
"He's only a dumb peasant boy! Not worth a second thought."
Vox glared at Alastor hatefully, but he did nothing more. Then he saw the Princess Mimzy and was immediately smitten.
"Wow! What a looker!" He said hurrying over to her throne. He moved his head up and down, really examining her appearance. "Yes, yes, I like her! I'll have her!"
"You'll have me?!" Mimzy said getting very upset.
"Here now!" The king spoke up. "Just what do you think you're doing?"
"Simple. I've just decided to marry your daughter. You see I only take the very best."
"Are you mad?!" The king shouted. "My only daughter, married to the likes of you?! No, by my eye!"
"Is that so? Well your highness, I'll have you know that I always get what I want and I want her."
"Absolutely not!" Mimzy said. "As if I would ever marry an ugly and nasty little rat!"
"Rat?!" His horrible face turned burning red. "You reject me and you call me a rat?!"
"How dare you!" The mouse queen screeched. "You wicked girl! You should be honored that my son would even blink an eye at you!"
"This is ridiculous." The king said. "Now listen queen of the mice, I have been very generous with you and your gluttonous people. I have allowed you to live in my kingdom and partake of all riches and feasts and festivities. But give my daughter's hand to your son? That is asking too much! No, I simply cannot comply."
"I see. You think your daughter too pretty to marry my darling son? Fine. She's not good enough for him anyway! And I think I shall make that obvious to everyone here!"
The mouse queen raised her arms and her robes flared up, allowing everyone to see her elegant black dress that was decorated with jewels, though strangely, a nut hung from a chain around her neck. She opened her mouth and spoke a dreadful chant.
"Hair like amber be as stone, teeth like pearls be as bone. Ugly as the night is long, never man shall right this wrong!"
Then there was a crack of lighting, the mouse queen and her son were gone and a great terror filled the room, when all looked at Mimzy, and saw what a change had taken place. Instead of the golden face of amber-blond locks, there was a large, ill-shaped head that sat upon her now thin shrivelled body, her little mouth had stretched itself from ear to ear, and her pearly teeth were now yellow chunks of wood.
As punishment for refusing Vox's offer of marriage, the mouse queen had cast the curse of ugliness upon Princess Mimzy, for which there was no known cure. Or so it appeared.