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I�m going to tell you a story.

Now, this is no ordinary story, not in the slightest. This is not your usual fairy tale, as similar as it is to a few stories. Why not, you ask? Well, let me tell you�

In fairy tales, there is always such thing as love at first sight. In these stories, a certain Prince Charming is always there to sweep a princess off her feet. Time limits are always at midnight, the dragons are always black with fierce red eyes, and a glass slipper is always left at the bottom of the stairs. Both princes and witches climb the golden locks of a girl who has never had a haircut, a poor boy trades his beans just so he can end up meeting a giant, and a princess feels a pea under her mattresses. Girls the size of thumbs are always the prettiest, puppets always have growing noses when they lie, and the ugliest beast is always the beauty. Girls are kissed awake, red apples are poisonous, and the wicked witch living in a house made of sweets is always stuffed into an oven in the end.

So what of this story?

Will there be true love, raging swordfights, fairies galore, castles, dragons, glass slippers, wishes come true, a charming prince, fruit of death, flying, mermaids turning into humans, princesses kissing frogs, miserable moments, gingerbread men running as fast as they can, and a knight in shining armor?

The answer is yes.

But along with these things, many other evils and goods, treacheries and happinesses, and hate and love take place. Events that were never thought to occur, things that were never thought to hold a specific purpose, and a love that was truer than anyone could ever dream of in a fairy tale are here, in this story.

Read on, fellow reader, and listen to the tale�the tale of life, beauty, and hope. And of course, a tale of love�a love truer and more beautiful and more real than even Merlin could�ve predicted. But love does not come without death and peril, and the beauty and passion does not go without pain and misery, but to encounter the magic, the fantasy, and the love�

You must begin with once upon a time�

And let us hope, dear reader, that we shall reach that happily ever after, if it ever does arrive�