DISCLAIMER: I own nothing, Disney belongs to Walt Disney and the Buffy and Angel cast belongs to Joss Whedon.
TIMELINE: AU
SPOILERS: Only for the movie, if none of you have seen it
Rating: G
Disclaimer: I own nothing, Disney belongs to Walt Disney and the Buffy and Angel cast belongs to Joss Whedon.
Author’s note: Thanks to Skyla Edenfield who helped planned the story and who helped on the research.
Author’s note 2: I wanted to make a Buffy fairy tale series, but I realised it was going to take too much time, so I decided that the best idea was to just do one fairy tale and since Sleeping Beauty was my favourite it was a clear winner.
Author’s note: Thanks to Katie, aka. Angelic Slayer who checked this story.
Feedback: I live for it and I write quicker if I get more reviews *wink*
Characters:
Aurora: Buffy
Prince Phillip: Angel
Stefan (Aurora’s father): Giles
Hubert (Phillip’s father): Holtz
Good fairies: Doyle, Lorne and Whistler
Maleficent: Cordelia
Queen: Jenny
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Chapter One
Once upon a time, in a far away land lived good King Giles and his lovely Queen Jenny. They ruled wisely and their land prospered, but they were unhappy because they lacked the one thing they desired the most. A child to raise; and who would one day inherit their lands. After many years of hoping and praying, a daughter was finally born to them and they called her Buffy, short for Elizabeth, which meant ‘God of Plenty.’
On the day of the princess’ christening, the king declared a great holiday throughout his kingdom; all of his subjects were welcomed into his castle to pay homage to the princess. It was a most joyful day as the whole kingdom rejoiced with the king and queen. Even King Holtz, from the neighbouring kingdom, came to see the new-born princess.
He and Giles were close friends and often dreamed of one day uniting their kingdoms. So today Holtz came and brought with him his small son, Prince Angel. The two kings announced to the crowd that had gathered on the castle grounds, that Prince Angel (otherwise known as Liam) would be betrothed to Princess Buffy. And when they came of age, they would marry and unite the kingdoms. The crowd roared its happy approval. The dark haired prince stepped up to the cradle and peeked inside at his future bride. He saw a sleeping baby with blonde curls that framed a pink, chubby face. His lip curled in disbelieve. "This was my bride!” he thought. "A baby!"
Then, to the delight of all, three more guests arrived. Through a shaft of light that filtered down from a high window, the three good fairies of the land descended upon the throne room. Doyle, Lorne and Whistler walked towards the king and queen, who were seated on their thrones beside the princess's cradle.
They rested along side the cradle and were delighted by the tiny bundle it contained. They bowed to the king and queen and announced that each of them were to bless the child with a single gift. Doyle, dressed in shades of dark red, presented the child with the gift of rare beauty. Lorne, dressed in shades of green, bestowed the gift of melodious song. Whistler, dressed in blue was about to bestow his gift when an awful, howling wind filled the hall. The queen ran to the king as the hall darkened. Suddenly a flash of lightening appeared, and within the unnatural green flames it produced, appeared the evil fairy Cordelia. Her familiar, a black raven, flew through the air and landed on her long staff.
“Why, it's Cordelia!” Doyle stated, feeling a sudden urge to protect the tiny princess.
"I felt quite distressed at not receiving an invitation." Cordelia stated as she took note that all were present at the celebration.
"You weren't wanted!" Whistler declared knowing very well that Giles would never invite such evil within the walls of this very castle.
“Not want...? Oh dear, what an awkward situation. I had hoped it was merely due to some oversight. Well, in that event I'd best be on my way.” Cordelia feigned surprise and made like she was about to leave.
Queen Jenny spoke, suddenly worried that she herself had angered the evil fairy. “You're not offended, your Excellency?”
Cordelia smirked slightly, “Why no, your majesty. For I too shall bestow a gift. The princess shall indeed grow in grace and beauty. Beloved by all her know her. But, before the sun sets on her sixteenth birthday, she shall prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel, and die."
Queen Jenny, shrieked slightly snatching the baby up into her arms while King Giles ordered his army to seize what he called ‘that creature.’ King Holtz and Prince Angel, stood to the size of the thrones, a look of horror was placed on their faces as they took in the scene, of the woman that could cause such harm to a little child for not receiving an invite to a christening.
And with that, Cordelia laughed, raised her arms and disappeared in a ball of flame.
The throne room was silent; with the exception of the queen's sobbing and the soft rustle of jet wings, as Cordelia’s raven exited through a window. Whistler stepped forward; He still had his gift to give and now he thought quickly for a counter-spell. He took a deep breath and, raising his wand over Buffy, spoke these words:
"If through this wicked witch's trick, a spindle should your finger prick. A ray of hope there still may be, in this gift I give to thee. Not in death, but just in sleep. The fateful prophecy you'll keep. And from this slumber you shall wake, when true love's kiss, the spell shall break."
"True Love conquers all,” thought the king. But romantic notions would not save his daughter. He immediately ordered that all of the spinning wheels of the kingdom be collected and burned. A great bonfire was created that evening, but the three fairies knew that this was not enough to stop Cordelia.
“Silly fiddle faddle!” Doyle said, stepping away from the windows, over the looking the tall bonfire that set aflame the spindle wheels. “A bonfire won’t stop Cordelia.”
“We could reason with her?” Lorne said, taking a bite of the biscuit he had conjured up. Both Doyle and Whistler turned to look at him with a raised an eyebrow. Doyle slowly lifted his head and waved his hand, slowly the three of them turned into small people and flew into a jewellery box.
“How about Three peasant men raising a foundling child deep in the forest?”
Lorne and Whistler had trouble trying to not burst out laughing but Doyle asked them to turn around and there they were, dressed in peasant clothes. They stared at him and disbelief but nodded in agreement; they could actually pull this off. They discussed alternative plans that would save Buffy from her fate, and finally settled on one they thought best.
They knew of an abandoned woodcutter's cottage nestled deep within one of the kingdom's many forests. They would disguise themselves as peasants and take the princess there and raise her as a foundling child until she turned sixteen. She would then be allowed to outlive the curse placed upon her, and then it would be safe for her to return to the castle. Of course, they would have to give up their magic; its telltale glow would surely attract Cordelia and her army of goons. But they were willing to make this sacrifice, If only they could convince the king and queen of their plan.
It proved to be a bitter thing to ask, but the king and queen knew in their hearts that as long as Cordelia had access to their child, she would not be safe. They agreed with heavy hearts and allowed the fairies to take their child. With Lorne holding the sleeping princess safely in his arms, the three men exited the castle softly under the cover of darkness. The king and queen watched from a balcony with growing despair as their only child disappeared into the night.
The years were long, lonely and anxious for King Giles, the queen and the entire kingdom. They counted the years, months and finally, day’s left until the princess would return home. At long last, Buffy’s sixteenth birthday arrived and the entire kingdom readied themselves for a lavish celebration that would re-introduce them to their princess.
Meanwhile, Cordelia was raging in her dilapidated castle located in the Forbidden Mountains. Her armies of goons were unable to locate the princess for all these sixteen years. She questioned them tirelessly and was given no answer. It was eventually realised that the incompetent goons had spent the last sixteen years looking for a baby, and not the young maiden that the princess had now become. Angered by this revelation, Cordelia punished the goons relentlessly and turned to her trusted raven.
“Oh, they're hopeless. A disgrace to the forces of evil. My pet, you are my last hope. Circle far and wide, search for a maid of sixteen with hair of sunshine gold and lips red as the rose. Go, and do not fail me.”
And with that, the raven took off over the countryside.
The three had carried out their plan successfully in the small cottage in the woods. They didn’t rename Buffy, for Cordelia only knew of her as Elizabeth, and they raised her as if she were their own child. There were very few visitors that ventured that deep into the forest. But no one ever guessed that the three kindly and elderly men were raising a royal child in their modest home. The princess meanwhile, grew to be not only beautiful, but also gentle and kind hearted. She knew nothing of her royal heritage and was a happy child. Although as she grew older, a sad loneliness began to settle in her heart.
On the princess's sixteenth birthday, the three men rose early and discussed what to get her for her birthday. They had planned to make the princess a beautiful gown as a birthday surprise but being men, it was a task possible, but even so they were determined to do it. So deep were they in their discussion that they didn't notice that Buffy had entered the room.
"Well! And what are you three dears up to?" asked Buffy to the surprised trio.
"Up to?" they stammered as they frantically hid the book and thought of a way to get Buffy out of the cottage. It was Whistler who came up with the idea that "...We want you to pick some berries.” And, as the princess questioned why they could possibly want more berries as she had just picked some yesterday, Lorne draped a shawl over her head, shoved a basket in her hands and gently pushed her out the door. With warnings not to go too far and not to talk to strangers, they watched their charge disappear into the lushness of the forest.
"I wonder if she suspects?" voiced Whistler as he recalled the knowing look on Buffy’s face as she turned to say goodbye. Doyle wasn’t convinced and started bustling around the cottage for cloth and needles. Lorne was pre-occupied with baking a fancy birthday cake and, for the first time ever, opened a cookbook while collecting ingredients. Whistler stared in wonder and disbelief at the two of them.
Doyle never sewed and Lorne never baked, this was Whistler’s domain. But the two were quite confident that, if they followed the instructions in the books, they would be successful.
Whistler voiced his concern at this as he held the cloth that Doyle passed to him. Doyle ignored the protests and directed a stool in front of Whistler, which he promptly helped him onto. "You can be the dummy." he stated to Whistler as he draped some pink cloth over Whistler’s head.
Whistler’s protests were consistent, but a bit muffled at the moment. When Doyle finally cut a hole in the top of the cloth, Whistler was able to poke his head through and survey the results. It was not going well, but Doyle was hopeful. All three began to share a tearful moment as they realised that this was the last day they would have their beloved Buffy. They wiped their tears and continued at their tasks.
Out in the forest Buffy walked slowly through the trees and started to sing. Her high, sweet voice drifted through the trees and called the birds and animals of the forest to her. They had been her companions through the years and they all loved her dearly. Even the sleepy owl was awoken and joined in the reunion. Soon, a whole host of animals had gathered at Buffy’s feet.
Someone else heard Buffy‘s song that morning. A handsome, young man dressed in fine clothes had wandered a bit too far in the forest on his white steed. He was about to turn back when he heard an ethereal voice drift his way. Enchanted by the sound, he forced his mount to follow it. His horse, Samson by name, was loath to follow along with such nonsense. “Hear that, Samson? Beautiful! What is it? Come on; let's find out. Oh, come on! For an extra bucket of oats, and a few carrots?”
His rider eventually coaxed him to comply and the horse and its rider galloped through the forest, stopping occasionally to pick up the song again to ensure they were on the right track.
Now, Samson was a well trained horse and quite skilful at jumping and dodging. But, the dense forest was more than he had bargained for and eventually he miscalculated a low, overhanging branch. Samson galloped on a few yards before he realised he had lost his rider. Retracing his steps, he found his master sitting in a shallow creek with a mock expression of anger on his face. "No carrots!" the rider joked as he playfully splashed his apologetic horse.
I wonder,
I wonder,
I wonder why each little bird
Has a someone to sing to
Sweet things to
A gay little love melody.
I wonder,
I wonder,
If my heart keeps singing
Will my song go wing-ing
To someone
Who'll find me
And bring back a love song
To me!
Buffy was enjoying herself picking berries and singing to her woodland friends. But, as was the case lately, a strange loneliness descending upon her. She couldn't understand how she could feel so lonely when the animals and birds of the forest surrounded her. But, as she looked at their confused expressions, she signed to herself. She loved all the animals of the forest and her three dear “uncles”, but she would have loved to have other human friends as well. Friends she could talk to and share her happiness with. She often dreamed of meeting other people her age.
One dream, however, had become more and more vivid. It was of a young and handsome man, a prince no less; who visited her dreams so often, that she was convinced they would meet someday in real life. She told her animal friends of this dream, and they shook their little heads in sadness. It pained them to see Buffy so unhappy.
The young man, meanwhile, had taken off his cape, hat and boots to dry off. He sat under the shade of a large oak tree and spoke of the voice he had heard just shortly before. "It was too beautiful to be real. Maybe it was a mysterious being ... a wood sprite, or..." he was interrupted by the neigh of his horse. "Here! Stop!" the young man, shouted as he sprang to his feet. He watched in wonder as his cape and hat floated swiftly away from him as if carried off by invisible hands. His boots hopped away, too!
What he didn't know was that the animals had noticed his cape and hat drying off on the tree branch. They thought to cheer up their Buffy by dressing as her "dream prince".
Now they drifted through the forest with their goods, and with the bewildered man close behind them. The animals, however, didn't notice this; they set quickly to work securing the cape around the owl and placing the hat upon its head. The hat was a bit large; so a red squirrel slipped in underneath and held it up so the owl could see clearly. The two rabbits that had taken the boots remained inside them as the owl and squirrel, supported by birds, floated above them. When they were satisfied with their work, they hopped and bobbed toward their princess.
Buffy noticed a change in the air and started with a jolt. When she turned and saw her friends dressed in the cape, hat and boots, she couldn't suppress a joyful laugh. “Oh why, it’s my dream prince. “ She approached her "dream prince" and curtsied. The "dream prince" bowed in response (as best could be managed) and joined in a dance.
I know you
I walked with you
Once upon a dream
I know you
The gleam in your eyes
Is so familiar a gleam
The young man who had followed the birds remained hidden behind a bush. What he saw was something out of his dreams. A young maiden, singing in the beautiful voice he had heard moments ago, was dancing gracefully with a host of woodland creatures. As she twirled in her dance, her long, golden hair spun around her and glistened in the sunlight that filtered through the thick canopy of leaves.
And I know it's true
That visions are seldom all they seem
But if I know you I know what you'll do
You'll love me at once
The way you did
Once upon a dream
She was the most beautiful sight he had ever seen and he soon found himself leaving his hiding place. He then pulled the mock "prince" out of the way and took their place as Buffy’s dance partner. He silently glided behind Buffy and softly placed his hands around her wrists. So gently did he do this that Buffy didn't even notice him until his powerful voice took up her song. Startled, Buffy gasped as she turned and pulled herself away from the young man.
"I'm awfully sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you,” the young man said with concern, as he gently took hold of her hand.
Buffy shyly looked at him for the first time. He was tall and youthful, His short, dark brown hair framed a handsome face, and his eyes held warmth that seemed so familiar to her. But, he was a stranger and Buffy quickly withdrew her hand from his grasp and turned to make her escape. But the stranger was persistent and managed to catch her gently by her other hand, forcing her to turn to him.
"...But don't you remember, we've met before." the young man smiled. "You said so yourself, once upon a dream."
Buffy released her hand from his grip again and turned from him in disbelief. How could he know her dreams? But as the man began to sing to her, she felt a stirring in her heart. She turned to look at him and saw love standing there. He took her by the hand again and led her into a dance. Buffy felt as if she was living out her dreams, The forest creatures looked on in wonder.
As they finished their dance, the man asked for her name. She was just about to answer him when suddenly she felt frightened. She had disobeyed her uncles by speaking to this stranger. And she had danced with him, too! She backed away from him slowly and ducked under a tree branch.
"Goodbye" she simply said as she made a dash for the cottage. When the man asked when he could see her again, she replied "Oh, never, never!" But the man shouted for her, and his voice was so filled with sorrow that Buffy surprised herself with her response. She had hastily invited him to the cottage that very evening! Now she rushed home to her uncles with her happy news.
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