Day One of Nanowrimo

Chapter One

Shall we go to the ball?

Once upon a time I lived. There’s my first sentence. I’m writing this story about myself because a lot of the happenings in my life and the lives of those around me need to be written.
My name is Snow and I live in an enchanted forest just west of the Palace. My story starts under the rule of King Winsor. I didn’t think too much about how King Winsor’s political views and decisions affected me or those around me. I just followed the rules and lived in my own little world in the forest.
I associated with all the creatures in the forest. There were giants, gnomes, ogres, witches, warlocks, wizards, fairies, dragons and so on. We all got along except warlocks and witches could not stand wizards and vice versa. Wizards just think they know everything about magic when it’s the witches who are the most powerful.
Anyway, a little about me…I’m a witch. I guess you kinda figured that by my remark about wizards. Well I’m a young witch, 20 years of age and I’ve lived in the West Side Waverly Enchanted Forest all of my life. I have a best friend and that is Morgana my fuzzy black cat. She thinks she knows everything but I love her anyway.
Since the forest is always changing it’s hard to tell an exact location of my house but it is a beautiful house. It’s small, one story and surround by beautiful flower gardens and a white picket fence. We also have magic gardens where we grow a variety of things for spells and enchantments.
I live with my mother, Milificent, and little sister, Lucinda. My warlock father, Bartholomew lives on the outskirts of the Palace with my stepmother, Hilda and my stepsister, Ella.
Well anyway, I visit my father quite often and of course Morgana accompanies me she enjoys braking away from the monotony of living in one home.
One warm evening I sat out in the backyard in a large wicker chair and had propped my bare feet up on the matching wicker foot stool. I wore a long white skirt that was trimmed in lace and a light pink tank top. I sat for a while with my eyes closed just soaking up the sun.
When I opened my eyes I saw Morgana running towards me. She took a flying leap and landed on the arm of the chair I was sitting in. “Well hello Morgana,” I said, patting her head. “Where have you been?”
“I have been over at Tessy’s place. She invited me in for milk. We had an interesting chat.”
“Really? Well what about?” Tessy is a dragon who lives in the caves just outside of the forest. You can get to the edge of the forest by hoping through a hole in the magic that runs through the forest, but you must be careful to hop through the right one.
“She said she heard talk of a ball at the palace. The prince is looking for a wife.”
“Really? That’s very interesting.”
“You should go.”
“Now Morgana, you know that the palace balls and get together are by invitation only and witches, warlocks, wizards, and animals are not allowed.”
“So what,” she said rubbing her back against my shoulder. We can crash it. Besides you don’t look like a witch. You have beautiful blond hair and brown eyes. Everyone knows that all witches have brown hair and blue eyes.”
“Well that’s why I died my hair and invented a potion for changing eye color. I don’t want to look like every other witch.”
She purred. “You need to get out more and how hard can it be to conjure up a spell for fake invitations.”
“You are so bad, Morgana. You know I couldn’t do that. It would be deceitful.”
She raised her back. “Oh pooh! You need to learn to walk on the wild side.”
“What do you mean?” I said putting my hand to my chest. “I do walk on the wild side.”
“Hah!”
“Well I walk with you don’t I? Besides I’m not interested in dancing with the prince. He seems so…well I don’t know…royal.”
“Oh, Snow, forget about the prince. They’ll be many more people to see.”
“Morgana, why do you want to go so badly?”
She licked her paw. “Oh…no reason. I just thought it would please you to go.”
“Yeah right,” I said, scratching under her chin. “I know you better than that.”
She jumped down off of the chair. “I’ll find out the date. You start the potion for fake invitations.”
Oh dear, I thought. Now I don’t know what to do. I suppose I’d like to go to the palace. I’ve never been within the palace walls. Of course I’ve seen what it looks like inside through my looking glass, but it’s not the same, and the king has had several parts of the palace cut off to magic mirrors and looking glasses. Even the most powerful of warlocks and witches haven’t been able to brake through the spell put on the castle. I don’t even have to mention that the wizards can’t brake through it.
Well anyway, what would a shy witch like myself do at such an extravagant ball and what if Morgana and I were caught? We could be put in a prison where magic cannot be performed. I just don’t know if I can take the risk.
Later that night, I lay in bed at Father’s house. A candle flickered on the bed side table and Ella lay in the bed next to mine. Morgan was curled up at the end of bed.
“What ya thinking about, Snow?” Ella asked.
“I was thinking about how the King has viewed the magical creatures and animals as less than humans and caused them to be separate. It’s like he’s afraid of us.”
“Well of course he is, Snow. It’s because you all are more powerful than he is. Oh sure he’s got the reign, but any of you at any time could use your powers against him. Of course he does have some powerful warlocks on his side.”
“Yeah. There the ones making all the spells to keep us out. If only Father’s health were better. He used to be powerful and influenced a lot of kings and queens in his time. We lived more united when King Arthur reigned.”
“Why are you worrying about this all of a sudden? So what you can’t go to the palace. It’s not that bad.”
“Easy for you to say. You could go if you wanted too.”
“No I can’t and you know it. Mother was shut off from that privilege when she married a warlock. She lost her title and political standing just for your father.”
“She really does love him then; doesn’t she?”
“I suppose so.” Ella sat up in bed; her red hair was piled up on top of her head and her cheeks were dotted with freckles. The candle light danced on her face. “You heard about the ball, didn’t you?”
Morgana’s head shot up and looked at Ella. She meowed softly.
“I guess Morgana didn’t want me to know. Huh?”
“Ridiculous,” Morgana hissed. “I’ve never heard of this ball.” She stretched out her front legs and curled back into a ball.
“Well excuse me, miss Morgana,” Ella said, giggling. “I won’t say another word.” She laid back down. “Goodnight, Snow.”
“Goodnight, Ella,” I said, blowing out the candle. The room was now pitch dark. I would like to go to the ball I thought.
The next morning when I woke up Morgana was laying on my chest with her tale in my face. “Oh yuck, Morgana. You’re getting fur in my mouth.”
She stood up and stretched. “Excuse Me.” She hopped off the bed. “I’m off to talk to a dragon about a ball. I’ll see you at your mother’s later this evening.”
“Oh, Morgana.”
“None of that. We’re going and that’s that.”
How did I get mixed up with such an impossible cat, I thought. She’s a bad influence on me, I decided.
I looked over to Ella’s bed and she was gone. Hmm…I wonder where she went.
I got out of bed and went to the kitchen. Hilda was sitting at the table holding a cup of hot tea in her hand and a book in the other.
She looked up from her book. “Good morning, sunshine,” She said with a smile. Your father’s gone to work and Ella has gone the market. We’re running low on some things.
“Oh.”
“You going to be off again? It seems like you don’t stick around here very much.”
“Well I do have some spells to study.”
“Very well. I’ll tell your father you can be reached on your mirror.” She took a sip of tea and concentrated back on her book. I could tell she wanted to say no more to me and wasn’t looking for a response. She may love my father, but she acts like she doesn’t think much of me.
I turned the door to leave then looked down at my clothing. Oh dear, I thought. Can’t forget to change. I snapped my fingers twice and was now wearing a short black dress with black ballerina shoes.
Morgana’s right. I need to walk on the wild side. I don’t take risks. After all I am a witch. I can be strong and powerful. I guess I can do it.
I straightened up. No. I can do it.
I waved my hand in the air and said the traveling spell. When I turned around I was back at my mother’s house. In the far back of our yard past the rose bushes there is a beautiful little shack covered in vines. This is where I go to study my spells and invent incantations. Spell making is an art and I embrace the art with creativity and thought. Making the invitation will be easy. First I need to know exactly what it looks like.
I walked over to my beautiful witch’s mirror that my grandmother had given me for my thirteenth birthday. This was my window to the outside world.
“Mirror, Mirror on the wall. Show me the invitation to the ball.”
A cloud of smoke encircled the mirror and when it settled a scroll of parchment paper was shown.