Dream Slaughters 6 Once Upon A Dream

Isa sa kanila ay ang kalapit na kaharian. Kaibigan ng hari ang namamahalang pinuno rito. Idinala nito ang nag-iisa nitong lalaking anak na magmamana ng buong kaharian. The crib was placed in front of the royal chairs. The Queen sat beside of the crib together with the nursemaids. They saw the princess playing the shakers.

"Your Highness! What a beautiful child," sabi ng pinuno.

"Thank you," the king answered with a smile.

"Eric, don't you think that Princess Aurora is beautiful?" The man asked its son. The boy stared at the giggling kid. He shrugged his shoulders.

"Um... I guess?" He said.

Nagsimulang tumunog ang trumpeta. Dumarating na rin ang ibang mga bisita. Nagsimulang tumugtog ng isang maligayang kanta ang banda na nagpadala sa lahat para sumayaw. Inilabas na rin ang mga pagkain – mga pabong inihaw at nilagyan ng gulay. Mga katas ng prutas na ipinitas pa sa matatamis na mga puno. Mga inumin na kinuha pa sa royal chamber. Ang lahat ay nagsisiyahan at nagtatawanan. Ang lahat ay maligaya sa biyayang ipinagkaloob sa kanila.

The last carriage entered the palace gates and stopped at the door. The huge door opened wide, showing the famous white carriage owned by the old wise man. Napatingin ang lahat sa may pinto. Kilala ng lahat ang matandang pilosopo. According to them, the wise man owned the greatest knowledge of all even the secret of eternal youth. That's why they always ask for guidance from this man.

b.u.mukas ang pinto ng karwahe. Unang lumabas ang isang matandang lalaki na may mahabang puting balbas na umabot hanggang dibdib nito. Isang eleganteng robe ang suot niya na nagbigay ng malakas na aura sa paligid niya. Puti rin ang kanyang mahabang buhok dala na rin ng katandaan. Pero kahit matanda na siya, malakas pa rin ang pangangatawan nito. Maganda ang pustora at halos nagpapakita ng magandang katawan na tatagal pa ng ilang taon.

Binati niya ang mga unang tao na nakasalubong niya. Pagkatapos niyang batiin sila, umikot siya para buksan uli ang pinto. Mula rito lumabas ang apat na bata na isisang b.u.maba. Namangha ang lahat ng makita ang apat na anak ng matalinong pilosopo. Kitang-kita sa mga mukha nito ang pagkakahawig sa kanilang mga ama.

The King welcomed the wise man. The wise man replied with a greeting introducing his children. The King and Queen stared at his children, fascinated. The four siblings almost look alike except for their height. They also wore the same formal clothes that made them look so decent and formal.

"We are to greet the Royal Highness. I hope you'll accept the gifts," The wise man said.

"With pleasure," The King replied.

Tinignan ng matanda ang kanyang mga anak at binigyan ng senyas na ibigay ang mga dalang reaglo. The kids nodded to their father and then to each other. They took a step forward and kneeled in front of the crib. The King nodded with amus.e.m.e.nt. With such a young age, these little kids already know how to deal with the royal family.

The first born, is on the left most, stood up and bowed in front of the king before going to the crib. He saw the princess happily giggling. He also smiled.

"I will give the princess the book of wisdom that someday will help her to make decisions. This will make her a great and wise maiden someday," he showed a black book to the crowd then placed it beside the crib. He went back beside his sibling and kneeled. The second bornturn stood up and did the same thing as his brother.

"I will give the princess this flute of the singers. She will appreciate our nature, the cycle of life and her own life. This will help her to understand our existence to this world," he placed the flute beside the black book. He returned to the line and kneeled. The siblings remained. Everybody stared at the third one who is still kneeling.

"Hey, it's your turn," the second born whispered.

"I'm sorry," he said, standing up from the line. He looked at his two older brothers and to the youngest beside him. He took the hand of the youngest and brought him together to the crib. The wise man was startled with the two. Well, those kids are still too young to know how.

"Um... we have nothing to give but..." He looked at the princess. "But we will show our deepest grat.i.tude to the beautiful princess. Am I right, South?"

"We don't have the material gifts but we have something to show for everyone," the youngest agreed.

The crowd started to chatter. What could have these little kids have? The third born raised both of its arms up, mouthed some words to the air. Suddenly, flowers started to grow beside the crib and petals rain around the place. The crowd awed with amazement. While there are petals, a beautiful voice started to sing. The last born sang its heart out, giving the precious words of wisdom to the princess.

Everyone clapped their hands after the performance. The two kids returned to the line and said their last words before standing up and return to their father. The wise man patted the heads of his children for their Excellency. The kids silently laughed behind.

"Your Highness, my deepest apologies but we have to return back to our kingdom. I really want to enjoy the celebration but we have still a lot of work to do," the wise man said.

"It's okay. I hope you'll be able to come next time," The king permitted them to go.

Umalis ang matanda kasama ang apat nitong anak. Sumakay sila sa karwahe at umalis. Sumara ang malaking pinto. Nagpatuloy ang kasiyahan. Ang susunod na magbibigay ng kanilang regalo ay ang tatlong mga diwata na nakatira sa kaharian. Naghiyawan ang lahat ng makita ang tatlo na parating. b.u.mati muna sila sa hari at reyna.

"Mukhang natapos na ang matandang pilosopo sa pagbibigay ng kanyang regalo kaya kami naman ang magbibigay ngayon," sabi ng pinakapinuno sa kanila. "Ibibigay ko ang isang napakagandang tiara na magsasaad ng kanyang kagandahan at kapangyarihan baling araw."

Isang tiara ang lumitaw sa itaas ng crib ng prinsesa. Dahan dahan itong b.u.maba sa ulo nito. Natuwa ang prinsesa sa natanggap. Sumunod naman ay ang pangalaw.a.n.g diwata na itinaas ang wand nito.

"I will give the most beautiful dress of all," sabi nito na naglabas ng isang napakagandang damit para sa prinsesa. Oras na para humiling ang pangatlo ng biglang dumilim ang paligid. Napatingin ang lahat sa langit na biglang binalutan ng maitim na ulap. Isang masamang tawa ang narinig ng lahat. Isang usok ang pumasok sa bintana na naging imahe ng isang babae.

"Hindi ko alam na mayroon pa lang pagdiriw.a.n.g na nangyayari dito. Bakit tile hindi ako naimbita?" sabi ng masamang witch.

"What are you doing here?" Said the first fairy.

"Isn't it obvious? I'll give my greatest gifts to the princess," the wicked witch laughed.

"You are not needed here. You must get out!" said by the second fairy.

Mas tumawa pa ang witch. Tinignan ang munting bata na masayang tumatawa. Iwinasiwas ng witch ang stick nito at itinutok sa prinsesa.

"On his eighteenth birthday, the beautiful princess will die. She will be p.r.i.c.kled by a spindle needle with poison."

The witch exited with an evil laugh. The crowd stared at the royal highness. Alam ng lahat ng mangyayari ito. What should they do to stop the curse?

"Then I will give my gift," said the third fairy. Napatingin ang lahat sa kanya habang dahan dahan niyang inikot ang hawak niyang wand sa harap ng prinsesa. "Instead of dying you will sleep. And the kiss of true love will wake you up."

n.o.body could forget that time. Eighteen years later, Princess Aurora found herself p.r.i.c.kled by the needle. Now, do you think it is your end? Aurora, when will you die? When will you wake up and just die? When will you-

Nagising ako sa isang masamang panaginip. Napaupo ako sa higaan, pinagpapawisan ang buong katawan. I don't know what is that dream. Why am I there? Katulad na katulad ito sa sinabi ng lalaking kanina. Isa akong prinsesa at binigyan ng sumpa ng isang witch. At ngayon ako ay natutulog sa isang torre...

"It's impossible. If I'm inside a dream how am I able to dream like that?" I muttered.

"It is possible. Because you are alive in this world like how you are alive in that world," a voice answered.

Napalingon ako sa malaking bintana. Doon, sa may railings ng terrace nakaupo ang lalaki. He was facing me, his face lit bright by the moonlight. He showed a very sad expression. He looks like he was about to cry.

"This... is not a dream..." I said.

"Believe whatever you wanted to believe. But that's the truth. I am not capable of lying," he said.

I ignored him and returned to my sleep. Tinabunan ko ng k.u.mot ang mukha ko at tumalikod. Hindi ako sigurado pero pakiramdam ko nangyari talaga ang nasa panaginip ko. I can feel that feeling. Yun bang parang may parte sa mundong ito ang hindi totoo. I wanted to know everything. Pero ano kaya ang mangyayari kung malalaman ko ang lahat? Is it enough for me to remain arrogant and believe myself? O mas mabuti pang maniwala ako sa kanya?

As the time goes by I fell asleep. And after that, I didn't dream. It's all blank and bleak.