Introduction and Dedication

Dear Reader,

This fanfic was inspired by my own beliefs as a Pagan Witch, it was inspired by two major Disney films, The Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, Erin Hunter's works and animal worlds (especially the Warriors series) and Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom theme park (through hard work and building a life for myself, I have become a frequent visitor). It is very rare for main characters to be strong, disabled, injured women who struggle with their physical and mental health; many characters with disabilities, especially those who practice witchcraft, are portrayed as evil. I hope this changes that misconception. This fanfic, although a fantasy, is an accurate representation of someone with PTSD caused by childhood abuse and someone with a chronic illness. And while life is lived to the best of its ability, as with all living beings, there are challenges that limit it.

This character was and still is, without a doubt, a self-insertion. Like her, I am also a survivor of child abuse.

I also dedicate this fanfic to the memory of James Earl Jones and Walt Disney. It is also dedicated to all the victims of abuse and cancer who were lost like my grandmother.

The faceclaim used for Elizabeth Gold's portrayal is Emma Watson, especially since she looked exactly the same when she played Hermione. Robert Carlyle, of course, was used as the faceclaim for Rumpelstiltskin. The god Loki in this fanfic is portrayed by the MCU version of him (Tom Hiddleston), as I believe it is just another way for people to see him, and he is also another comfort character for me.

I would like to thank And now, please enjoy my little tale, about the balance between life and darkness, between life and death, about what is truly good and evil.

Remember, we are all connected in the great circle of life.

To those who carry invisible scars, to those who cry in silence, to those who were hurt by those who should protect them: this story is for you. May each line be a shelter, each chapter a hug. May books, as they were for me, be portals of healing, magic and hope. May there never be a lack of a story where you feel seen, welcomed and, above all, strong. You are more than your pain. You are resistance.

I dedicate this to you and to me, survivors, to the wounded souls, to those who seek refuge in the pages of a book — like me. This story is dedicated to you. I know what it is like to carry pain that the world does not see, to struggle to exist in the midst of internal chaos, to seek comfort in the words of characters who, even fictional, understand our pain. May this fanfic be a corner of welcome, a reminder that you are not alone. May books continue to be portals to worlds where we can breathe, dream, and rebuild ourselves. May each page you read remind you that living, even with scars, is an act of courage. You matter. You are loved. And you deserve happy endings too.

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