Mistic Pets

Welcome to Issue 50
Created by The Mistic Pets Team

A Sprite Sleeping Beauty
Written By gemajgall

The prince and princess of the sprites held a great party to celebrate the coronation of their heirs. All of the nobility of Darkwood Hollow were invited as well as some humans from Mistic Kingdom. Every tree in the forest seemed to be decorated and no expense was spared for music, clothing, food, dance and even a fireworks show.

On the final night, all who attended stepped forward to give the young prince and baby princess many beautiful gifts; there were dresses and jewelry, toys and books, candies and saplings. However, all anticipated the gifts from the seven elder sprites. The elders had sat back during most of the festivities; their age meant they lacked the energy to participate.

But soon, the eldest raised a hand and the festivities quieted. One by one the elders bestowed great gifts upon the young royalty through their magic: gifts of song, gardening, beauty, wisdom, compassion, and health.

Just as the last elder stepped forward, the room went dark and cold. Icy wind threw the doors open, and in stepped the king of the imps. A cruel smile twisted on his face. “What? A huge celebration practically in my backyard, and you didn't even invite me?” It was silent; everyone cringed back from his jagged words. “It's okay—I brought a gift for the young prince and princess anyway.” With a wave of gnarled nails, dark magic flared around the children.

“On the day they touch the crown, nightmares shall consume their lives! They will fall into eternal sleep and die!” With a loud and long laugh, the imp king vanished into the shadows. The lights flickered on dimly, showing the faces of the bewildered and anxious crowd.

“Don't be afraid,” said the youngest elder. “I still have a gift to give—I can set the gears in motion to overcome this curse.” He stepped over to the children. “For the final gift—a gift that befits royalty...I give you the gift of sovereignty; the gift to choose your own fate.”

There was a mumble from around the room; many still worried about the curse of the imp king. Over the next month, the prince and princess worried and worried. Finally, unable to take it any longer, they turned the young prince and princess over to the elders for safety. Deep in Darkwood Hollow, apart from the sprite community, the elders raised the children as if they were their own.

There, not far from the Meadow of the Shores, the young prince and princess grew knowing nothing of their heritage. They sang to wild Misticpals and grew gardens of gemstones. The elders taught them everything they knew about the world—but no one sensed the red eyes watching them from the shadows.

On their sixteenth year, they prepared carefully for their first flight. But instead of it being a time of joy and hope, the young prince and princess began to be haunted by nightmares. They grew fearful of the very thought of flying. The elders gave them careful instructions to stay inside while they were away, fearing that the curse may come to pass.

But the prince and princess were friendly and kind—it wasn't long before a stooped stranger appeared at their doorstep while the elder sprites were away. In exchange for cool water and a much-needed pair of shoes, he gave them a ruby red apple.

“It has magic inside—make a wish and take a bite; your wish will come true.”

The young prince eagerly reached for the fruit, but the moment he touched it he fell into a deep sleep tormented by nightmares. For the stranger—the imp king—had replaced the apple's seeds with gems from the crown, thus, fulfilling the curse.

“Brother! Brother!” cried the young princess.

“It's too late for him!” cackled the imp king.

“No it's not!” exclaimed the princess, kicking him in the knee. “There's always a choice!” The imp king lunged for her, but she ducked under his arms and ran. He chased her across the meadow to the cliffs that lined the seashore.

“Nowhere left to run!”

The princess whimpered and took a step backward—and fell off the cliff. However, much to her delight, the sea winds caught her wings, lifting her up and up. She soared in the sunlight while the imp king roared in fury below.

The sprite princess did not stop there. Not far from the shores, she found a tidal cave; the elders had told her that a kelpie witch made her home there and casted spells—all for a price. They told her never to approach her, but the princess knew she had to save her brother.

In exchange for her gift of song, the kelpie witch gave the princess a powerful spell. She returned home, and in the gardens she had planted with her brother and the elders, she buried all of her gardening talent with a seed of compassion and covered it all with beauty.

There a flower unlike any other grew and bloom with all the colors of the sunrise. One whiff woke her brother from deep slumber and a kiss of dew from it drove away the nightmares that had haunted them forever. The curse had been shattered completely!

The two grew in wisdom and one day claimed the throne of the sprite kingdom, leading their people into peace and prosperity. The magical blossom became their symbol. And although the flower's seeds contained no magic, many sprites to this day drink the dew from a tulip in hopes of banishing nightmares.

Comments

Written By Oboe

I love how this story has mixed so many classic fairy tales into it. c: Those are some of my favorite kinds of stories!

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