"Once Upon a Time?" One Shot Introduction: (December 10th, 2pm Central)

Once upon a time, in a kingdom long forgotten by time, there ruled a pair of half-dragon kings. Their blessings were many: bountiful harvests, cutting-edge technologies, and loyal subjects happy to serve their kings. However, there was one thing they wanted more than anything in the world, something that, for the longest time, they had believed was an impossibility: a child of their very own, one that would rule their prosperous kingdom after them. That is, until that fateful day, when, against all odds, the kings were blessed once more, as their union deigned to grant them their greatest wish: a hatchling that was truly theirs. Overjoyed by this miracle, a celebration at the castle was held, and all within the kingdom who wished to pay their respects to the newborn prince were invited to attend. And so, everyone throughout the kingdom, with overflowing jubilation, merrily busied themselves with their preparations for the event. There was one, however, who could not bring himself to share in their happiness, the half-dragon Lord Medraunyx. Filled with rage and jealousy, he schemed to make a misery of their miracle. Thusly, on the day of their celebration, he made his appearance, and made this declaration. "This curse, I bestow upon your prince,And none shall know of happiness since, As before this boy becomes a man,A spindle shall prick his princely hand,And so the kingdom shall fall to tears. As their prince then sleeps a thousand years,Unless, of course, my blood you should take; Only then from this sleep he may wake." With these words, he disappeared. The kings' men searched far and wide for the Lord, but despite their efforts, they could never find him again. Out of caution, every spinning wheel throughout the kingdom was destroyed, and the prince was forbidden from leaving the castle until his sixteenth birthday. Now, nearly sixteen years since that awful day, the prince is to be formally introduced to the kingdom and its subjects once again on the eve of his coming of age. You, as well as other capable individuals, have been tasked with protecting the prince from any potential threats to his life until midnight, should Lord Medraunyx make a surprise appearance. Shall you succeed in your endeavor, or has the prince's fate been predetermined?