Disclaimer: I didn't write the story of Cinderella, therefore I own none of it. However, I DO reserve the right to twist it as much as I like, in a clever and hopefully humorous manner.
Author's Note: my apologies to a certain Miss Auburn, I didn't have your correct email address, so I had my Mom beta this. You get the second chapter.
Prologue
In a land, on a world, in a universe, perhaps very far away, there were two kingdoms: the kingdom of Lndr and the kingdom of Nylbryn. These two countries were right next to each other and, since the king and queen of each country had always been friends with the rulers of the other, their capital cities were close to the border, so that they might visit whenever they wished. In the same year the queens of each country gave birth to a child; to Queen Tas of Lndr a girl, name Kriella, to Queen Prista of Nylbryn a boy, named Tolrin. The children had been great friends in their youth, but as the years went by, grew apart. This was fortunate, as had their relationship been otherwise, this rather interesting story might have never occurred...
Chapter One: A Not-So-Great Marriage
In the castle of Igsnor, in the land on Lndr, a slight disturbance was felt, originating from the living room of the Royal Family. As we venture to that place, we realize it is caused by the systematic throwing of books into a tumbled heap, by one Princess Kriella, heir to the throne of Lndr. This is where the story truly begins...
Kriella(hereafter known as Kri, except by her parents), was positioned comfortably on the couch, reading through yet another one of those fairy tale stories. She had been bored this day and so had decided to reorganize the Royal library. *And it's a good thing I did,* she thought. *We had some really stupid ones.* Books like this Cinderella story. She didn't know the author, but they clearly had no idea how a princess really acts.
"'And so the princess walked through the palace, with a perpetual look of joy gracing her beautiful face and harmony pervading her entire being,'" Kri quoted in a tone that suggested she was either going to vomit or throw this book with all the others. She chose the second option and another vile tome fell on the pile. "That's it. I'm hunting down this Hani fellow and personally setting him straight."
"You may do that later," informed a firm voice behind her. Her Highness Queen Tas walked into the room, frowning at the unsteady heap. "After you pick all these up. My dear child, what have I always told you about throwing books?"
Kri sighed.
"To be sure you've read them first," she replied.
Tas joined her on the couch, placing a heap of white fabric swatches next to her.
"That's right. Remember that time you threw an entire detective series into the trash?"
Kri's hazel eyes were both sheepish and unrepentent.
"That was a really dumb series though," she defended. "I figured out every single mystery within the first five pages."
"That wouldn't be because you like to read books back to front, would it?"
"Details, details," the princess dismissed with a smile.
"Onto other matters, we, or more specifically you, have a big day coming up," Tas introduced with a smile.
"Really," Kri said dryly.
"Yes," the queen said brightly. "You're getting married! Today is the first fitting for your wedding dress!"
Kri stared at her, dumbfounded, then started laughing hysterically. This attracted the attention of King Lly, who entered the room and glanced at his daughter in confusion.
"Did you tell her?" he asked his wife.
Tas nodded.
"She's certainly taking it well," Lly remarked.
The princess finally regained her breath
"Oh, that's good. With your serious expressions and everything, you almost fooled me," she declared, wiping tears from her eyes.
Tas and Lly shared a Look.
"I am serious," the queen stated.
"Hold on," Kri exclaimed. "You PROMISED me that I would never have to deal with arranged marriages. Lndr is one of the kingdoms with the greatest amount of integrity in the world."
Now Tas sighed.
"That's part of the problem. Remember that nice boy prince from Nylbryn you used to play with all the time?"
"Yes," she responded uncertainly. "Tol. I haven't thought of him in ages. I haven't ever SEEN him in since I was five."
Lly walked over behind the couch.
"Well," he began. "He and you were close, even said you loved each other, in that innocent childlike sense. One day, you came home and insisted that the two of you be married. Your mother and I told you that you weren't old enough, so then you made us promise to let you get married when you were of age. We tried to dissuade you, but you were a stubborn child, so finally we swore an oath to let you."
Kri's face turned a pale greenish color.
"I was just a silly little girl, surely you wouldn't-"
"We keep our word, dear," Tas interrupted firmly.
At her parents' unmoving looks, Kri screamed and left the room.
_______________________________________________________
Meanwhile, in Brinnor castle in the land of Nylbryn, in the very same sort of room, Prince Tolrin was also being told of the impended nuptials.
"You have got to be joking," he said in disbelief, running a hand through his short brown hair, a habit that appeared during times of stress. On this occasion, his parents were surprised that he hadn't bypassed that and gone straight to pulling it out. "There is no way I am marrying some girl just so you can keep on being two of the most honest rulers in the world."
King Sarn gave him a sympathetic, yet stern glance.
"Our integrity is a matter of national pride, son. The Royal family of Lndr has already called the bluff on your foolish decision with their daughter. We back out of our side, national pride plummets, the next thing you know, we have on of those pesky revolutions on our hands."
Queen Prista patted Tol's hand.
"She was a lovely girl," Prista mentioned softly.
Tol rose from the couch.
"That was thirteen years ago!"
He turned to his parents, but seeing their implacable eyes, gave a frustrated groan and left the room.
Sarn sighed.
"He'll come around," Prista said.
Tol went to his room, grabbed a bunch of grubby clothes that he used when he wanted to walk among the people, and changed into them.
"If I have to marry her, I'm going to at least find out something about her."
On his way out he ran into his manservant, an old but sturdy man named Kile.
"My lord," he said. "If you go to see the princess, I doubt they'll let you in the castle dressed like that."
"I'm not going to the castle," Tol replied. "I'm going to find someone who really knows her. A friend or something."
He rushed out the door before Kile could say anything.
"Young people," the manservant said, bemused. "Always making things more complicated then they should be."
Author's Note: my apologies to a certain Miss Auburn, I didn't have your correct email address, so I had my Mom beta this. You get the second chapter.
Prologue
In a land, on a world, in a universe, perhaps very far away, there were two kingdoms: the kingdom of Lndr and the kingdom of Nylbryn. These two countries were right next to each other and, since the king and queen of each country had always been friends with the rulers of the other, their capital cities were close to the border, so that they might visit whenever they wished. In the same year the queens of each country gave birth to a child; to Queen Tas of Lndr a girl, name Kriella, to Queen Prista of Nylbryn a boy, named Tolrin. The children had been great friends in their youth, but as the years went by, grew apart. This was fortunate, as had their relationship been otherwise, this rather interesting story might have never occurred...
Chapter One: A Not-So-Great Marriage
In the castle of Igsnor, in the land on Lndr, a slight disturbance was felt, originating from the living room of the Royal Family. As we venture to that place, we realize it is caused by the systematic throwing of books into a tumbled heap, by one Princess Kriella, heir to the throne of Lndr. This is where the story truly begins...
Kriella(hereafter known as Kri, except by her parents), was positioned comfortably on the couch, reading through yet another one of those fairy tale stories. She had been bored this day and so had decided to reorganize the Royal library. *And it's a good thing I did,* she thought. *We had some really stupid ones.* Books like this Cinderella story. She didn't know the author, but they clearly had no idea how a princess really acts.
"'And so the princess walked through the palace, with a perpetual look of joy gracing her beautiful face and harmony pervading her entire being,'" Kri quoted in a tone that suggested she was either going to vomit or throw this book with all the others. She chose the second option and another vile tome fell on the pile. "That's it. I'm hunting down this Hani fellow and personally setting him straight."
"You may do that later," informed a firm voice behind her. Her Highness Queen Tas walked into the room, frowning at the unsteady heap. "After you pick all these up. My dear child, what have I always told you about throwing books?"
Kri sighed.
"To be sure you've read them first," she replied.
Tas joined her on the couch, placing a heap of white fabric swatches next to her.
"That's right. Remember that time you threw an entire detective series into the trash?"
Kri's hazel eyes were both sheepish and unrepentent.
"That was a really dumb series though," she defended. "I figured out every single mystery within the first five pages."
"That wouldn't be because you like to read books back to front, would it?"
"Details, details," the princess dismissed with a smile.
"Onto other matters, we, or more specifically you, have a big day coming up," Tas introduced with a smile.
"Really," Kri said dryly.
"Yes," the queen said brightly. "You're getting married! Today is the first fitting for your wedding dress!"
Kri stared at her, dumbfounded, then started laughing hysterically. This attracted the attention of King Lly, who entered the room and glanced at his daughter in confusion.
"Did you tell her?" he asked his wife.
Tas nodded.
"She's certainly taking it well," Lly remarked.
The princess finally regained her breath
"Oh, that's good. With your serious expressions and everything, you almost fooled me," she declared, wiping tears from her eyes.
Tas and Lly shared a Look.
"I am serious," the queen stated.
"Hold on," Kri exclaimed. "You PROMISED me that I would never have to deal with arranged marriages. Lndr is one of the kingdoms with the greatest amount of integrity in the world."
Now Tas sighed.
"That's part of the problem. Remember that nice boy prince from Nylbryn you used to play with all the time?"
"Yes," she responded uncertainly. "Tol. I haven't thought of him in ages. I haven't ever SEEN him in since I was five."
Lly walked over behind the couch.
"Well," he began. "He and you were close, even said you loved each other, in that innocent childlike sense. One day, you came home and insisted that the two of you be married. Your mother and I told you that you weren't old enough, so then you made us promise to let you get married when you were of age. We tried to dissuade you, but you were a stubborn child, so finally we swore an oath to let you."
Kri's face turned a pale greenish color.
"I was just a silly little girl, surely you wouldn't-"
"We keep our word, dear," Tas interrupted firmly.
At her parents' unmoving looks, Kri screamed and left the room.
_______________________________________________________
Meanwhile, in Brinnor castle in the land of Nylbryn, in the very same sort of room, Prince Tolrin was also being told of the impended nuptials.
"You have got to be joking," he said in disbelief, running a hand through his short brown hair, a habit that appeared during times of stress. On this occasion, his parents were surprised that he hadn't bypassed that and gone straight to pulling it out. "There is no way I am marrying some girl just so you can keep on being two of the most honest rulers in the world."
King Sarn gave him a sympathetic, yet stern glance.
"Our integrity is a matter of national pride, son. The Royal family of Lndr has already called the bluff on your foolish decision with their daughter. We back out of our side, national pride plummets, the next thing you know, we have on of those pesky revolutions on our hands."
Queen Prista patted Tol's hand.
"She was a lovely girl," Prista mentioned softly.
Tol rose from the couch.
"That was thirteen years ago!"
He turned to his parents, but seeing their implacable eyes, gave a frustrated groan and left the room.
Sarn sighed.
"He'll come around," Prista said.
Tol went to his room, grabbed a bunch of grubby clothes that he used when he wanted to walk among the people, and changed into them.
"If I have to marry her, I'm going to at least find out something about her."
On his way out he ran into his manservant, an old but sturdy man named Kile.
"My lord," he said. "If you go to see the princess, I doubt they'll let you in the castle dressed like that."
"I'm not going to the castle," Tol replied. "I'm going to find someone who really knows her. A friend or something."
He rushed out the door before Kile could say anything.
"Young people," the manservant said, bemused. "Always making things more complicated then they should be."