In the grand palace, the Queen is preparing for the christening ceremony for Princess Aurora. Invited are fairies – led by the most powerful Lilac Fairy – who bestow gifts upon the child such as beauty, dance, song, courage, grace, and kindness. Just before the Lilac Fairy can bless Aurora with hers, the evil fairies arrive in a rage at being overlooked. They bestow a curse on Aurora: on her 16th birthday, she will prick her finger on a spindle and die. The Lilac Fairy – although unable to reverse the curse completely – weaves a counter spell: the Princess will not die but will fall into a deep sleep.
Sixteen years later, a party is thrown to celebrate Aurora’s birthday. Guests in attendance include fairy tale characters. Three huntresses meet mysterious strangers at the palace gates. They tempt them to take the spindle as a gift for Aurora. During the festivities the young girl pricks her finger on the spindle and collapses. The Lilac Fairy reminds the family and guests of the Princess’s true state, that she is merely in a long slumber. The good fairy also places the entire village under a spell of slumber; they are only to awaken when Aurora does.
A hundred years later, the gardens and grounds of the palace have grown into a forest. A hunting party, led by Puss in boots and his friends come upon the palace. The Lilac Fairy calls on her woodland nymphs to bring forth the spirit of Aurora to dance for them. Puss in Boots wakes her with a spell. The whole kingdom celebrates. Amid much dancing and merriment, the evil fairies beg for forgiveness but are banished from the kingdom forever.
