Chapter 1: Mirror, Mirror
ONCE UPON A TIME, a Princess named Snow White lived in a castle with her father the King and her Stepmother the Queen. Her father always reminded his daughter that above all else, a royal family must be fair. He said, “People over all the land come to the castle to settle disputes. The ruler must hear each side and make a decision that's fair.”
The Queen, Snow White’s stepmother, knew how important being fair was to her husband. She went to her magic mirror and asked, “Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?”
“Snow White is the fairest of them all!” said the Magic Mirror.
“What?!” shouted the Queen in surprise. “No one is more fair than I! The Queen must be the best at everything. What's more fair than that?”
“Snow White is the fairest of them all!” stated the Magic Mirror again.
The Queen shook her fists. “What do you know? - you’re a mirror!” She threw a blanket over the mirror and stormed off.
Still, the Queen was bothered. So much so, that the Queen decided to be rid of the girl, once and for all.
“I cannot wait another day to deal with her!” she resolved. The Queen called for her servant, a huntsman. Pointing her long fingernail at him she said, “Tomorrow, find a reason to take Snow White deep into the woods. And kill her.”
The huntsman was shocked! But she was the Queen - what could he do? The next day he took Snow White into the woods. As he drew his knife to slay her, Snow White turned around.
“Look,” she said. She took from her pocket six perfect animal shapes carved of wood. “I made them for you.”
“Snow White,” cried the huntsman, dropping to his knees. “I cannot do this!”
“You must accept them, they are a gift,” said Snow White.
"That's not what I meant!" said the servant. “How can I say this? The Queen, your stepmother, ordered me to kill you.” The huntsman dropped to his knees. “But I cannot!”
“She what?” Snow White called out with alarm.
“You must run away!” said the huntsman. “Far away. Now! And never go back to the castle!”
Snow White turned and ran into the woods as fast as she could.