Once a upon a time in faraway land 6 princes lived in a shining castle, although they had everything their hearts desired the princes were spoilt, selfish and unkind.

But one winter’s night an old beggar woman came to the castle and offered the princes 6 roses in return for shelter from the bitter cold.

Repulsed by her haggard appearance the princes sneered at the gifts and turned the old woman away but she warned them not to be deceived by appearances for beauty is found within.

And when they dismissed her again the old woman’s ugliness melted away to reveal a beautiful enchantress.

The princes tried to apologize but it was too late for she had seen that there was no love in their hearts, as punishment she placed a curse upon them and placed a powerful spell upon the castle and all who lived there.

Ashamed by their curses and beastly appearances the princes concealed themselves inside their castle with a magic mirror as their only window to the outside world.

The roses she had offered were truly enchanted roses which would bloom until the year 2012, if they could learn to love another and earn her love in return by the time the last petal fell then the spell would be broken, if not then they would be doomed to remain beasts for all time.

As the years past they fell into despair and lost all hope for who could ever learn to love a beast.