PHASE 0: AUDITIONS

Applicant #1: Heartless

APPLICANT #1: HEARTLESS

Once upon a time there lived . . . what? A damsel looking for her prince? An elf? A dwarf? No! This story is about a witch-heartless witch; literally a witch without a heart. How she came to be without it? We'll get there, eventually. For now, let's skip to an ending of another story, for this was how our story begins.

And they lived happily ever after . . .

And so they thought, for in despair Liona the witch cast a very powerful spell. Enacted out of revenge, and so she thought as well, for it wasn't revenge that drove her, it was jealousy. Jealous that Fierra found her happily ever after. Envious that her Prince Rem loved her beyond doubt, and here she was all alone and unloved.

"I would destroy your happiness, my dear Fierra, if it's the last thing I do," she announced. The side of her lips lifting to an evil sneer.

"Never!" Prince Rem shouted in defiance; holding his mighty sword. As if his mere courage was enough to save his beloved.

"And you thought that could stop me?" She gave a flourish of her hand and the sword flew from Rem's hand. Seeing the impending doom, the two hugged each other.

"You always get what you want Fierra. This time it would be different, this time I will win."

Liona looked down at everyone before her. Making sure everyone's eyes was on her before she cast her spell.

"From this day forth, I shall have everyone's memories locked up. We shall return in time, before Prince Rem set his eyes on his beloved Fierra. I will change the past and I'll make sure the two of you never met," she pointed at the couple as her staff appeared in her hand. Greenish light enveloped her, as it did everyone else.

"You can't do this Liona. Enacting the curse will take a terrible toll," Fierra's voice fought to be heard.

"I know, dear sister." She knew the price she must pay, and she was ready. With that in mind, she struck her staff in the ground and the spell was cast.

****

The bell struck midnight, but no Fierra appeared on the ball, just like what Liona wanted. Instead it was her whom Prince Rem met, whom the prince saw that night, and whom the prince had danced with. It was her smile of triumph that captivated the prince. It was her laughter, of finally winning, that sounded music to the prince's ears.

It was her the prince chose.

The prince loved her and gave her all the happiness she thought she had long lost, and she did him. She cherished every moment. Pushing the lingering worries away and just living the life she knew she deserved.

But as time goes by, emptiness filled her. There was an unfathomable void in her chest. As the curse progresses so was the hole that seemed to suck all her happiness. Yes, it was her heart. That was the price she must pay. She knew all these were real, but it's like a drifting thought that was going further and further away-like a dream. She knew then, she can never give Rem what he truly deserved-her love. Without a heart how can she?

If she can't then someone should, she decided.

"Dear Liona, is something wrong? Is there anything bothering you, my love?" Liona closed her eyes, savoring the sound of his voice.

"A lot, my love," she whirled and face his worried face, caressed it with all the love she could give, no matter how heartless she could be.

"What is it?" The cracked in her voice worried the prince more, but she steeled her resolve; she knew what she must do.

"It's time to wake up, my dear Rem. And Goodbye," she whispered as she brushed her lips with his.

****

What happens now? We'll everything returned to normal. Everyone has their memories back, as well as their memories for the past years.

Our witch? Oh she returned to her miserable life in her castle, alone. She has her heart back, but not without damage-it was broken.

One day a visitor came. A visitor she last expected to come.

"What are you doing here Fierra?" She asked without even turning to see who it was. "I returned everything back. What more do you want?"

"Why didn't you tell me you love him?"

"Would you have let him go?"

"If you have played fair I would have. If he loves you, who am I to go in between you and your happiness?"

"Happiness? That's an elusive thing for people like me. For all the things I have done, for being who I am, having known love for even a brief moment is more than I could get. That was enough for me, Fierra. Knowing he's happy now, what more could I ask?"

"Am I? Without you how can I?" that voice . . . Liona turned to the door harshly. There he was, regally standing. Emotions swelled in her heart.

"What are you doing here?"

"Proving to you that even you could have a happy ending. I love you Liona. You may enact a curse to go back in time but you never used magic to make me fall in love with you. That was me, my heart, my choice alone. And more importantly, that was real."

"But . . ." she looked at Fierra that smiled at her.

"I told you, if he loves you, who am I to go in between you and your happiness?"

When she turned back to Rem, she was surprised to find him kneeling. "Would you marry me, Liona? I should have asked this a long time ago."

With tears in her eyes, she said yes.

****

You see, even witches get to have happy endings. So let's end the story as any other fairytales.

And so they lived happily ever after.

The end.