At the birth of the princess, Aurora, three fairies bestow gifts on the child. Before the third gift can be given, Maleficent, the mistress of evil shows up and also gives a gift. She curses the child to prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die when she turns sixteen. In an effort to ward off the final effect of the curse, instead of dying, the princess will fall into a permanent sleep and can only be awaken by True Love's Kiss.