Chapter Text
Once upon a time, a young queen gave birth to a son. Her son was strong, and he quickly learned about the world around him. Not only was he capable, but smart, too. However, the queen sadly passed when her son was only five.
The king remarried, though. His new queen was not as hardy as the last, and was quite petite. She was sickly, too. In later months, when she was pregnant with the king’s second son, she fell very, very ill. Rumors of a magical flower with healing properties reached the king’s ears which prompted him to send out his guard in search of it far and wide.
Their efforts were not fruitless; there was indeed a flower with magic properties, with petals a shimmery gold and spots a rich cream color. It was brewed and given to the queen, whose health soared in response. Whatever illness she had was cured, and her predisposition for bad health improved beyond measure. Her labor was hard, though.
Hours had to pass before her son was born. When he was presented for her to hold, though, he was the picture of health. Rosy cheeks and a happy gurgle later, and her son was sleeping soundly.
Little did the monarch know, they had taken the flower of a witch who prided herself in her youthfulness. A time later, this witch snuck into the royal nursery and attempted to cut a lock of cream-colored hair from the babe, unwittingly waking him. He burbled happily at first, and the witch thought herself successful at the glowing lock of hair. At least, until she attempted to make her escape, and the hair dulled to a deep brown, the magical luster fading to nothing.
The strands that had been cut on the baby dimmed too. The baby began to cry, and the witch panicked. The baby’s crying woke his older brother, who shouted for their parents and guards. The witch threw on her hood, though, and grabbed the baby. She looked back once; the king and queen burst through the door.
All they saw was the flutter of a receding cloak, and the witch and their baby were gone.
Months of searching came up empty, and after a year, the royal family gave up their search.
Their son was gone.