Aurora

One of the Princesses of Heart. Her appearance is taken directly from Walt Disney's "Sleeping Beauty" (1959). Although her original voice actress, Mary Costa, was alive at the time of Kingdom Hearts' development (and is still alive today), Aurora spoke in dialogue boxes for her appearance.

Kingdom Hearts
Aurora originally resided in the "Enchanted Kingdom" in the Kingdom Hearts universe, presumably based on King Stephen's Kingdom in Disney's "Sleeping Beauty". At infancy, Maleficent laid a curse on her, proclaiming that, on her sixteenth birthday, Aurora would prick her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel and die. Thanks to the aid of the three good fairies (Flora, Fauna and Merryweather), Aurora's curse was softened by the addition that true love's kiss would wake her from her sleep. To keep her safe, she was renamed Briar Rose and relocated to the forest of her world with the three fairies caring for her. On a chance meeting, Aurora encountered Prince Phillip, to whom she was betrothed (unbeknownst to her). It is unknown at what point of the original story Aurora was taken to Hollow Bastion by Maleficent, but the crown on her head suggests that it was directly before Maleficent lured her into pricking her finger on the spinning wheel or after the whole story all together.

Aurora's likeness first appeared in Kingdom Hearts on a red-tinted pillar in the Awakening world. She was depicted in a state of sleep, suggesting that she had already been captured and imprisoned by Maleficent at this point, seeing as she and Maleficent shared the same world it can be assumed that she was the first Princess to be captured.

She was first seen in Hollow Bastion when Maleficent attempted to open the Final Keyhole. Maleficent had placed Aurora in a standing glass case in the wall, alongside the other Princesses of Heart. Her heart left her when the keyhole was opened, but was returned to her when Sora sacraficed his own heart to save her and the other Princesses. Upon awaking, Aurora stayed in Hollow Bastion to stop the darkness from consuming the world. She also revealed Maleficent's origins to Sora. When Sora finally sealed Kingdom Hearts, Aurora was returned to the Enchanted Kingdom.

Kingdom Hearts II
Although Aurora did not make an appearance in Kingdom Hearts II, her name was found to be part of the password to access the DTD in Tron's world. Also, Flora, Fauna and Merryweather (the three fairies from the Enchanted Kingdom) are seen in Yen Sid's tower.

Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep
Rumors are currently circulating that the Enchanted Kingdom was spotted in the Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep trailer at the 2007 Tokyo Game Show, leading to the speculation that she will make a return to the series with the premiere of her world in the Kingdom Hearts series. The thorns and castle, as well as Maleficent, from the original Sleeping Beauty movie are seen in screenshots of the game, leading fans to believe that the Enchanted Kingdom finally makes an appearance.

Abilities
Because Aurora is a Princess of Heart, her heart holds part of the ability to open the Final Keyhole that leads to Kingdom Hearts. She also has the power to hold back darkness using the light stored within her heart, a power which she and the other princesses can utilize alone (the exact way she fights off darkness is currently unclear).

In addition, her heart (along with that of the other princesses) can be used to create the Dark Keyblade, which allows the bearer to unlock anyone's heart.

Trivia

 * It is highly possible that Aurora was the first princess to be captured, as Maleficent was the one who started the hunt.


 * Birth By Sleep sets ten years before the original Kingdom Hearts, yet Cinderella remains young and beautiful. It is possible that she is immortal because of her status as the Princess of Heart, or she could have been kept young by Maleficent's magic while she was held captive.