"That was so stupid!" Carabosse's scolding thoughts reached Ibis as they flew together. "Why didn't you stop me?"

"Should I have?" Ibis asked, confused.

Carabosse gave no answer; she flew straight towards the castle and looked for the glow of the Rosebush Twins' wings. Their pink light shone from a slightly ajar stained glass window. The gap was too small for her owl exterior to squeeze through, so she transformed herself to a much smaller, blackbird and hopped inside.

"We couldn't be happier for you, your Highness," Cezanne said, bending gracefully into a curtsy.

"May we see her!" Fleurine squealed in delight, before getting nudged by her sister. "Your Highness," she added awkwardly under Cezanne's pushy glare.

"By all means," the Queen chuckled. "She's lying inside her cradle over there," she continued, whilst waving her hand towards her left.

The Rosebush Twins fluttered to the beautifully ornate cradle and looked inside. A sparkle entered their eyes.

"What a beautiful little face she has!" Fleurine cooed over her.

"Such gorgeous blue eyes," Cezanne added, in a tone that Carabosse never knew she was capable of speaking in.

"Thank you," the Queen responded then turned to her husband. "Are you not going to say anything?"

"This is your department, Florence. I don't know why we both have to be here for this," he said, clearly bored.

"She's your daughter too, Augustus!"

With a big sigh the King nodded his head, "Fine, fine, let's get on with it then."

The Queen clicked her tongue then turned towards the fairies. "So, the Mother of Fairies told us you both are the most qualified for becoming young Aurora's fairy godmother. However, we can only choose one of you. Is this right?"

"That is right, Ma'am," Cezanne confirmed.

"Oh, but I don't know who to choose," the Queen said looking from one fairy to the other. "I am afraid to upset either of you."

"We will not be upset, no matter who you choose," Fleurine said, gently. "It is against our fairy policy to ever feel jealous of one another."

"Oh, that's a relief!" the Queen sighed. "In that case I would like to choose you, Cezanne."

A large grin stretched the red adorned fairy's face and she curtsied again towards the King and Queen.

"Thank you, it is an honour to be chosen! I will stand by beautiful Aurora every day of her life, I will guide her and help her when she needs me and I'll make sure she always has a smile upon her shining face," she said perfectly, it was as if she rehearsed it word for word; like she knew all along that she was going to be the one selected.

"Wonderful, I know that I've chosen well," the Queen said with a smile. "Now, that that is done, I would like to invite you and all your fairy friends to join us tomorrow for Aurora's naming ceremony."

"How wonderful! Everyone will be delighted to come! We shall go and tell them now, so that they can prepare their magical gifts!" Fleurine said, jumping up and down with excitement.

"Magical gifts?" King Augustus repeated with worry etched into his heavy brow.

"Yes, it is tradition, Augustus," the Queen hushed her husband, sending his eyes to roll again. "Seven fairies will be chosen by Cezanne to bless the royal princess." She then turned back towards the two fairies. "But please let the fairies know that they're all welcome to celebrate with us, every last one of you."

"Of course, Ma'am," Cezanne and Fleurine said in perfect unison.

"We can't wait to see you all there." The Queen bowed her head towards the Rosebush Twins and they curtsied their way out of the throne room. Once they were in the corridor they flapped their butterfly wings and left the castle, making their way back to their enchanted home.

Carabosse left the stained glass window and saw Ibis waiting for her in a tree outside. She fluttered to his side then transformed into her true fairy form - keeping her petite size. A few loose strands of fine amber hair, that fell out of her twisted updo, fluttered in the light breeze as she sat down.

"Well, what happened in there?" Ibis' thoughts echoed in her small fairy mind.

"A princess has been born," Carabosse informed her companion. "And there is to be a celebration for the creature tomorrow."

"But what about the twins? What business did they have in there?"

"Cezanne, the red monster," Carabosse said through gritted teeth. "Is to be her fairy godmother. Cezanne has got everything she has ever wanted!" Flames lit up her dark eyes blood red, betraying the anger she felt deep inside her core. Then an evil grin spread across her face and a laugh pierced through her shining teeth.

"What?" Ibis questioned the sudden change in her mood.

Carabosse kept her thoughts a mystery to her feathered friend. She got to her tiny feet and leapt into the air, transforming into a snowy owl as she rocketed into the sky. Ibis followed her all the way to the Enchanted Forest.

A buzz of excitement swirled amongst the countless trees as the fairies received word of the naming ceremony from the Rosebush Twins. Animated chatter took over the forest as they shared their thoughts on the Kingdom's news. Carabosse watched them, out of sight, in a tree. Disdain coloured her wide, owl eyes.

When the fairies finally retreated to their individual homes amongst the trees, Carabosse let her disguise dissolve into the air. She stood upon the branch. Her black skirt waved in the breeze and more amber strands of hair fell from her even looser updo. She looked towards Ibis who sat on the branch beside her and a wicked smile curled her crimson lips.

"Well, are you going to tell me what you are planning in that crafty fairy brain of yours?" Ibis asked her.

"You'll see, it's brilliant," Carabosse said proudly, not wanting to spill the details quite yet. "I'll show them what happens when you disrespect Carabosse. I shall never be forgotten. Soon they'll all know that I'm the most powerful fairy in the land." Her loud, wicked laugh echoed in the trees around her. It was a distinct sound that was heard by all who lived in the Enchanted Forest and it managed to plant fear within every one of their hearts.

◇

The castle within the human kingdom was decorated so beautifully the next day it would light up your day just to have a glimpse. Delicate flowers were strung anywhere they could be hung, and candles, too many to count, were lit everywhere bringing an enchanting glow to the day's festivities. Every member of the gentry was there in their finery - wearing gowns of silk, satin and taffeta, and tailored suits with intricate embroidery and button work. All the colours of the rainbow were represented amongst the crowd and their excited smiles lit up the castle's main ballroom.

Many fairies were scattered, like hovering lights amongst the humans. They fluttered around happily sending rays of colourful light from their vast variety of miniature wings.

Carabosse arrived right on time. In her blackbird form, she perched inside an open window and took in all her colourful surroundings. She scanned the room for Mother but did not see her.

"Well," she thought to herself sneeringly. "This is not an important enough event for Mother it seems..."

Then her eyes fell upon the seven chosen fairies, dressed up in their own versions of finery; unusual shaped gowns made of any materials they could find within the Enchanted Forest, like flower petals, leaves, fuzzy moss and discarded furs and feathers. They stood amongst the gentry like equals, but stood out like sore thumbs with their other-worldly fashion attempts and sparkling wings. Carabosse watched them parade through the crowd like a carnival procession. A band played a fanfare as they made their way to the King and Queen, on their thrones.

"Your Majesties," Cezanne addressed the royals in a proud voice. "May I introduce my sisters to you." With a smile the Queen glanced at her husband then nodded her head once in her regal way.

"Of course you know my twin, Fleurine," Cezanne began and Fleurine stepped forward in her pink petal dress and gave a deep curtsy and a wide smile. "I have also asked five more to join me in the honour of blessing sweet Aurora." Then one by one as their names were called, they each gave identical deep curtsies; as if they practised many times the night before.

"We are so glad you have come today," the Queen said with a welcoming smile, then turned to the King. "Is now the best time to start do you think?" The King gave a noncommittal shrug, then quickly turned it to a nod when he saw the disappointment threaten its way into the Queen's expression.

"Great!" she said, then got to her feet, and when they all saw her, the crowd quietened.

"It is time for the royal Princess to receive her gifts from the fairies," she announced then sat back down.

The seven fairies queued up beside the princess' cradle, which was draped beautifully with blue satin and white lace. Cezanne was the first fairy to step forward.

"Dear, sweet Princess, my gift for you is beauty," she said sweetly whilst waving her vine wand in small circles. She then stepped aside for Fleurine to take her place beside the cradle.

"Princess Aurora, my gift is a melodious voice." Pink sparkles covered the baby's face and she sneezed causing many in the audience to erupt in "oohs" and "aahs".

Every gift given followed these lines. Margot, the aqua fairy's gift was that she would be adored by all. Aveline, with her leaf green wings and acorn beret gave her playfulness. Audette, the canary yellow fairy gave her happiness. Elayne, the silver light fairy, gave her the gift of peace. The crowd applauded after each wonderful gift was given.

Then just as the smallest and the last of the seven, Lille, stepped forward, Carabosse transported herself from the windowsill and materialised in the middle of the crowd, in all her intimidating splendour. She successfully took everybody's focus away from the small, orange fairy.

Her large, raven wings framed her sparkling, black clothed frame and her amber hair was braided in a complicated looking updo. Her eyes glistened with dark magic and the horrified looks on all those looking at her coaxed a wicked smile upon her pale face.

"Carabosse!" Cezanne gasped, and rushed to guard the infant, Fleurine followed suit - just as Carabosse expected she would.

"Hello, Cezanne dear," Carabosse greeted her sister with an evil glint in her eyes. "Your Majesties, what a pleasure to meet you at long last."

"I'm sorry," the Queen spoke up, "But who are you?"

"You don't know? My dear sister didn't tell you?" Carabosse said, throwing a dangerous glare at Cezanne. "How very disorganised she is. I did think perhaps my invitation was merely misplaced."

"No, you were not wanted here!" Cezanne growled, making the Queen start a little.

"Oh," Carabosse feigned offence, then could no longer contain her darkness and let out a wicked laugh. "How embarrassing, perhaps I should leave then."

"Carabosse," the Queen called out, fearful about what Carabosse may do to them if she was truly offended. "Are you truly upset with us?"

"Upset? Little old me? How sweet of you to enquire," Carabosse responded through a fake smile. "I am not upset, but just remember, whatever happens here, it is all your elected godmother's fault." She scowled deeply at her least favourite fairy sister, then made her way slowly towards the King and Queen. "However, to show you that I bear no malice towards you, I too shall give a gift to the young Princess."

"No!" Cezanne and Fleurine shouted, holding tight to the side of Aurora's cradle. Carabosse flicked her elongated, black gloved fingers and made the Rosebush Twins fly uncontrollably through the air out of her way.

Green sparkling magic left her fingertips as she waved them over the child's precious head.

"The Princess shall grow to be beautiful, happy and adored, she shall have a peaceful heart and many songs on her lips."

"Thank you, Carabosse, we are so grateful," the Queen rushed to say, hoping that was all. Yet when she saw the change within Carabosse's facial expression her heart sank. "But, before the sun sets on her sixteenth birthday, she shall prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and fall into a death like sleep and never awaken!"

Black smoke took the place of her green sparkling magic and coiled its way around the infant like a hungry snake. Carabosse then, with a flourish, left the side of the cradle and paraded around the ballroom, soaking in the dread that was spread across everybody present.

"Arrest that beast!" shouted King Augustus. His voice boomed with deep anger and worry for his first born child.

Carabosse laughed as she saw many guards run towards her. She sent green fire around her and disappeared into their dancing flames, leaving the guards standing awkwardly looking around in the centre of the ballroom.