Another (Improvised) Cinderella Story
Alone in the streets; nothing to hope for. The kingdom I lived in was a hellhole. Unable to leave; unable to live as everyone else has. I get laughed at, persecuted; blamed for actions I never committed. My shirt was dirt covered, torn, and patched up in many places with undeterred colors. My pants were the exact same. The sleeves of the shirt went up to my dirtied elbows; my pants up to the middle of my calves.
I was nobody to them. I was Max only to myself.
My parents got killed in a massacre, and nobody even tried to help. They only looked at me, disgusted at my sight. I am sixteen now, eight years of living in the streets, eight years of hunting and fending off. Orphaned at an age so young as eight. My only secret and my biggest one ever, were my owl-styled wings. Nobody knew; nobody bothered to know.
The king went to see me, along with his prince one sunny, clear afternoon. I was sitting by a nearby stream, inhaling the fresh smells of the water. How I wanted to bathe in this crystal clear water, but alas, I could only do at night, when the owls hooted and the mice scurried. The stream's sounds were entrancing me with its steady rhythm. The sounds of hooves came abruptly, and that was my only warning as the king and the prince –who was only four months older than me- walked up to me with all their royal glory. Sadly, that didn't intimidate me. I've fought bears for food before; silk clothes are nothing to me.
"Where are your manners, peasant?" the King –King John, I presume- bellowed to me. He was only a couple feet away, geez! I forced a blank expression on my face, trying to keep the death glare from it.
"And why, may I ask, have you com to see me?" I replied calmly, well, as calmly as an angered peasant could manage. I still didn't turn to see the 'Lord Almighty' himself.
"We have heard talk about a street peasant roaming around the kingdom." He boldly replied. "I have come to confirm the situation, and for you to know that there is a king and a prince in this land. Now turn around and you don't get hurt." I had bruises from many attacks, and I didn't want to risk another. Unwillingly turning around, me and the prince caught each others' eyes. Mother always said their eyes told all, and there was a spark in his that I didn't understand. Everyone looked at me with anger, hatred. He looked at me with different emotions. Happiness? It can't be love. Why would someone as high and mighty as he love a completely poor and dirty peasant as me? Though I felt a magical tug towards him, I couldn't help it. I knew something was going on.
"King John, I have known all my life about the presence of you and Prince Nick." I said, calmly still. "I have lived here eight years with a Mother and Father, and eight years fending off for myself and killing bears for food. Sixteen years of living here, King. Half of it the time of my life, and half of it I knew I was damned to hell by everyone that looks at me. They look at me with those eyes, those hating eyes. Those eyes that show hate, blame, anger. And what have I ever done to them? Orphaned at such a young age as eight, King. Why am I ever hated? Why? Three people I know have shown any love towards me. Anything nice and worth remembering. Most of what I hear, what I listen to, it only made me dive deeper into myself. My only friends, Mother and Father, are killed now." I started off nicely, but at the last sentence my voice turned cold and angry.
"Peasant- " he started, but I cut him off immediately.
"Max." Acid was dripping.
"Fine. Max, who's fault is it that your family was murdered? It was not thee, or thy shall have been dead my now. I did now kill them Max. You shall know that." His gruffy beard became increasingly annoying. "I, for the sake of your trust and respect, am inviting you to the Ball of Dreams. If you can find a dress, then thy shall be invited." And just like that, he was walking off towards the carriage they came from. Prince Nick was still staring at me with the hypnotizing light in his eyes. His black hair went over his eyes adorably, and his dark brown eyes were showing many emotions I thought nobody would ever show me.
For the sake of insanity, I coughed uncomfortably and looked down. He was standing still, and I barely noticed him as he squatted low enough to whisper in my ear-
"I've known you for a long time, Max. I know about your wings, your life. And I wish I could do something about it. Max, I can't believe I'm saying this, but I truly love you. If you want to come to the Ball, I have a dress for you I made myself. I must say, it'll look quite dashing on you." I could feel the smile in his voice. I must say, I was shocked. I looked forward, pretty much over his shoulder.
"H-How did you know?" I said slowly.
"I've knows you since the massacre, Max. When I heard of it I snuck out to look at the orphan. She was very pretty, but she obviously looked, as you said, damned to hell." And after that he patted my shoulders, stood up, and walked off to the impatient king, riding away into the beautiful sunset.