Sleeping Beauty's Prince

1615. Prince Phillip de Valois takes on the valiant task on waking Sleeping Beauty from the fabled curse. Upon entering the thorny hedge that surrounds her enchanted kingdom, two sharp barbs tear two parallel gashes in his arm, sending pieces of his soul into the air, throwing them to the winds of time.

Not deterred, Phillip continues into the castle to find the princess. She’s beautiful and he falls in love with her immediately, however his kiss does not wake her, no matter how many times he tries. Dejected, he leaves, only to be met on the outside of the hedge by three Angels, who explain his failure and his destiny. In order to wake the princess, which is indeed his fate, he must recapture the two pieces of his soul, marked by the same gashes, to heal the crystal that protected the original curse from spreading. He is told that a dragon will protect the crystal until his return.

1694. Years pass. No luck finding either part, but Phillip has befriended Charles Perrault (the real author of Sleeping Beauty), in whom he has confided his plight. Perrault, being the entrepreneurial writer that he is, transcribes Phillip’s story into a fairy tale, pending a happy ending.

In Dublin, Phillip comes upon Declan O’Farrell, a hard-working farmer who enjoys his fun and village popularity. Declan sports the same scars on his arm as Phillip. With some convincing, Declan has no choice, but to follow Phillip on his quest.

1830. A possible candidate. Not.

1912. Another possible candidate. Not.

Present. Erin Peterson’s life is kind of fruitless… unrequited love with European travel and Celtic festivals, a cubical-bound job, a cat-stealing boyfriend, two life-long scars on her arm. After her friend, Connie, convinces her that drinks at a local tavern are necessary, she meets Phillip and Declan.

Now that the three of them are together, Phillip and Declan must convince her of her destiny, however they simply come off as crazy and creepy. Her quick exit lands her in the hospital after getting hit by a car.

Her destiny will not be ignored, and neither will Phillip and Declan. Persistence pays off as Erin, urged by Connie to embrace the adventure, agrees to accompany Phillip and Declan to Germany to awaken the princess, which they do, and all appears to be well… but not everything is as it should be.

After meeting Erin, Phillip has a change of heart. After all these years of pursuing his selfish goal of Happily Ever After, he realizes that it is at the price of Declan’s and Erin’s happiness. He cannot fulfill his obligation to completely break the curse, knowing their fate. Declan, understanding the ramifications of Phillip’s choice, convinces him there’s no other option.

Reluctantly, Phillip guides Declan and Erin to the crystal, guarded by the dragon, and fulfills their destinies, releasing the princess and her kingdom from the centuries-old curse and putting everything right.

… and they all lived Happily Ever After…