Once upon a time in a faraway land there lived a princess named Riley and a peasant girl named Maya. Riley was the daughter and only child of the king. Riley lived a happy life full of toys, beautiful dresses, and great comfort. However for Riley, most of the upper class children her age she met were very self-centered and rude, causing Riley to wish for a truly kind friend. Maya meanwhile lived a sad life which included living in an old shack, old raggy clothes, dirt always gathering up on her, and great sadness. Recently Maya's father had abandoned her family leaving her mother alone to raise her. Since her mother cried very often, Maya would often escape from her home to explore the kingdom she lived in. Maya often would like to climb the tall trees next to the royal castle. And on one of these days: she climbed a very tall tree that had branches that touched the castle itself, which was when Maya first met Riley.
Riley the little princess was wearing a pink dress as she sat in her bedroom singing to herself. Maya was right outside the window to the room and heard Riley's singing. Being drawn to it, Maya swung on a branch and jumped into Riley's room and say, "Hi. How are you?" Riley immediately upon seeing Maya said, "Are you a stranger?" Maya then said, "Well... yeah." Riley then said, "Okay. Aaaahhh!" Maya then quickly covered Riley's mouth and said, "Look. I'm a stranger but I'm not gonna hurt you. I heard your singing and it sounded really pretty." Riley then moved Maya's hands from her mouth and said, "Really? No one has ever told me my singing sounded pretty before. Thanks. So what were you doing out there?" Maya sighed and said, "My mom is always sad because my daddy left us. When she cries I like to get out and explore the kingdom. I like climbing trees and looking at pretty things." Riley then with a smile on her face said, "Am I pretty?" Maya suddenly began to blush as she said, "Um... well... yeah." Riley then said, "Thanks. What's your name?" Maya then said, "I um... I'm afraid to say my real name. I don't want to get in trouble since I know peasants aren't supposed to sneak into the castle like this." Then Riley said, "Okay. Can I give you a nickname then?" Maya then said, "Um... sure." Riley then said, "I'm gonna call you Peaches. Lets be friends forever." Maya giggled a bit as she said, "Really?" Riley smiled as she hugged Maya and said, "You can visit me whenever you want and I'll always sprinkle you with love." As Maya accepted Riley's hug she said, "Sure. Whatever you want."
For the next several months, Riley and Maya's friendship grew. Maya would often sneak into the castle to visit Riley. Together they played with toys, looked at books, and told jokes to the other. Then often on many nights, Maya would sneak back into the castle to take Riley out of it so they could see the kingdom together. Together they took long walks holding hands together, looked at the stars, and sometimes picked flowers. One evening Riley and Maya were walking back to the castle together as Riley was wearing a crown made of flowers on her head. As Maya noticed Riley's flower crown she said, "We've been walking all night. When did you have time to make that?" Riley then took out another flower crown as she said, "At the same time I made yours." Riley then put another flower crown on top of Maya's head. Maya rolled her eyes and smiled as she said, "Only you honey." Riley smiled as she wrapped her arm around Maya's arm while saying, "I just want you to feel like a princess too Peaches."
Suddenly the two saw right in front of them was Riley's father and several castle guards. A scared Riley and Maya immediately stopped in their tracks as they said, "Uh oh." Riley's father then said, "Riley. I've been searching for you for hours. You're safe. Now get away from this peasant girl right now." Riley then said, "I'm sorry I was gone so long father. I lost track of time. But this peasant girl isn't dangerous. She's my friend." Riley's father then marched over to Riley and grabbed her hand as he said, "You a princess. You have no place to be mingling with commoners." Riley tried to break free from her father as she said, "No father. She's not some commoner. She's my best friend." Riley's father with anger said, "Your friend!? You are royalty. Her lower class ideals would only corrupt you." Riley's father then looked right at Maya's face as he said. "Listen here girl. You are a child so I shall grant you mercy. But approach my daughter again and you shall experience great pain!" Riley's father and the palace guards then took Riley away. As Riley was being dragged off she yelled, "No! Peaches!" Maya stood where she was as she held her arm out yelling, "Riley! Please don't go... Riley, I... I... I..." But Riley was now too far away to be heard by Maya. Maya then fell to the ground crying as she said, "I never got to tell you Riley. My real name is Maya and I... I... I love you."
TO BE CONTINUED...
*Author's Note - There's your prologue for my remake of Cinderella featuring Riley and Maya. This chapter may seem like it has nothing in common with the original Cinderella story, but it was a necessary original prologue to make the rest of the story work. The real meat of this tale begins in the next chapter; where there will be plenty of romance, lots of drama, a healthy dose of comedy mixed in, and of course: lots of Rilaya. ;)