Once upon a time...
And so it was, and in the years that followed the King would search the land for any who could lift the curse. But though he offered great rewards to any who would succeed, and though many tried, the curse would not be lifted while its caster remained alive.
And the Knights of the realm was charged with the grim duty of finding the Dark Fairy. Long were the roads they traveled, and fruitless their search - for the Dark one was cunning and would not linger long in the same place, not would they allow any to discover the Dark Tower.
And the years passed. The Princess grew in health and beauty, and upon her sixteenth birthday a great ball was hosted in her honor. Kings and Queens from distant lands came to celebrate, as did the comments, and the gentry, yay even the trolls and the fairies of the realm. And though the tale of the curse had spread far and wide, none spoke a word of it to their neighbor, for the feast was grand and the music gay, and the Princess so fair that the mere thought that any ill could befall her would bring tears to the eye. And that was no way to celebrate a birthday, now was it.
And as the guests arrived on the day of the feast, one slipped in who had not been invited. And the Knight, ever vigilant, took notice and crept stealthily along their wake, thinking the intruder to be the Dark Fairy come again. Along winding corridors and lonely city streets went the chase, until the uninvited suddenly vanished. And no sooner had the Knight left their post, than another intruder appeared. Like dancing shadows they crept, infiltrating the castle one by one - and in the highest tower of the castle, a bell chimed; the ball had begun.
And the Knights of the realm was charged with the grim duty of finding the Dark Fairy. Long were the roads they traveled, and fruitless their search - for the Dark one was cunning and would not linger long in the same place, not would they allow any to discover the Dark Tower.
And the years passed. The Princess grew in health and beauty, and upon her sixteenth birthday a great ball was hosted in her honor. Kings and Queens from distant lands came to celebrate, as did the comments, and the gentry, yay even the trolls and the fairies of the realm. And though the tale of the curse had spread far and wide, none spoke a word of it to their neighbor, for the feast was grand and the music gay, and the Princess so fair that the mere thought that any ill could befall her would bring tears to the eye. And that was no way to celebrate a birthday, now was it.
And as the guests arrived on the day of the feast, one slipped in who had not been invited. And the Knight, ever vigilant, took notice and crept stealthily along their wake, thinking the intruder to be the Dark Fairy come again. Along winding corridors and lonely city streets went the chase, until the uninvited suddenly vanished. And no sooner had the Knight left their post, than another intruder appeared. Like dancing shadows they crept, infiltrating the castle one by one - and in the highest tower of the castle, a bell chimed; the ball had begun.
The End
