A/N: This chapter is only the prologue to this story so I'm not really worried that it's boring, 'cause what else can you expect from a prologue? This chapter was mostly to introduce the setting and one of the main characters a bit. The next chapter, which introduces the second main character, is much more exciting, by the way.

I haven't written in a while and am a little rusty, so please forgive me for any mistakes.

The sun began to rise over the skies of Everland that morning at the same time it had dutifully for the past several centuries, its pale, white light glowering somberly into the dark skies. The light's illuminating fingertips stretched slowly across the land, casting itself over the miles of valley filled with an ocean of emerald grass, soils rich with minerals, farm crops pregnant with the efforts of the fall season, and herds cattle clustered through the grasslands; and shone equally over the cities, and the capital Wisenia's soot-stained slums where the sky was choked with smog spewed from factories stained with the sweat of urban laborers and its forever damp streets lined with unending waves of beggars and thieves. But the city was defined by its worst part. Looking at the clean white brick roads and plant-laden streets above such slums, surely filled one with the hope of betterment for all. The pure white walls, shimmering glass windows, and jewel-lined grand gates of the Charming Castle stood at the middle of the city as a symbol of that hope, even though now guards patrolled the grounds more relentlessly than ever due to the intense paranoia of the relatively new regents. The sunlight slowly crept across this castle, almost especially brightly into the nursery, over the figure of a small child.

The child in question, a rosebud who could be no older than six, was bawling loudly, rubbing tears fervently from her pure blue eyes. The hallways outside the room were a tumultuous wreck, and the weeping girl listened closely through her tears. The door suddenly banged open, and the girl jumped and twitched her head to the entrant. An old maid to the house, whose face was rapidly flooded with relief. "Princess Ashella!" she exclaimed.

Ashella's countenance soured. "Mama!" she wailed, burring her face in her knees and weeping with renewed vigor. "Ma-ma," she wailed again, like a siren. At this sudden outburst the maid stood frozen in fear before dashing off, calling excitedly for the "good Queen Cinderella". A shadow of a smile crept across Ashella's face, quickly disappearing when the door was opened once again, this time more gently.

The woman who entered the room was extraordinarily beautiful. She was tall and slender with flawless pale skin, honey blonde hair, and pure blue eyes. Queen Cinderella called to the distant, distant echo of her appearance huddled in the middle of the room in a reserved tone. "Ashella."

"Mama!" The child tossed herself into the queen's arms. She buried her face into her mother's gut and wept.

"And what is wrong now, my child?" Queen Cinderella stroked her daughter's messy, pale-brown hair. The queen's eyes were affectionate but exhausted.

"Oh, mama, I had the most terrible dream," burbled Ashella, pressing her head against her mother tightly. The queen nodded, and Ashella continued. "Everything was covered in red stuff and there were so many apples being thrown about and these terrible, ugly monsters that were eating everything and there bright lights that flew about everywhere and all manners of strange people I'd never seen before and I was all alone and you and papa weren't there and I didn't know what to do, or, and, and...!" Ashella began to breathe erratically.

Queen Cinderella pressed a finger to the girl's lips. Ashella stopped talking obediently and her breathing slowed. The queen's tone was now consoling, but her words were cruel to the lonely child's ears. "Now, Ashella. What have I told you about overreacting to these dreams of yours?"

Ashella whimpered, "B-but... but mama!" The girl clasped her hands over her heart and looked up to the queen with pleading eyes. The queen merely sighed and turned away.

"Meera!" she called. "Come and care for Ashella. She's been sleeping in the nursery again." She began to walk away. At the last second she turned her head to her daughter and imparted sternly, "Behave yourself." With the very last words she would ever say to Ashella spoken, Queen Cinderella disappeared around the corner. Ashella let her earlier facade slip off her face. She turned to the window and stamped her foot in frustration, letting an equally frustrated, childlike cry escape her lips.

"My lady." Ashella glanced to the doorway, where Meera, her nursemaid hardly in her teens but entrusted with the care of the probable future heir to the Everland throne, stood. Meera bowed respectfully. Meera walked to the huddle of sheets and began to pick them up and fold them. After several long moments of silence, she began, "Princess Ashella." Meera was given no response. "Forgive me for speaking out of my place, but..." She waited, strained, for an answer, but was again greeted only be silence. Meera gulped and forged on.

"Perhaps it is not my place to comment, but you should not harry the queen so. Princess, you know she has been sickly as of late, and your outburst hardly aid her health. Meera stopped; there was another long silence.

"I know you desire her affections, but... Well, the good queen has done much just to be here. There certainly was no shortage of other maidens vying for the king's attentions, you know! And when she got to the castle, well, there was much rejoicing, of course, but being Queen is not an easy feat! Despite her efforts and intentions, the queen was exhausted. And no one can blame her... Especially with the execution of her stepmother and stepsisters. I mean, despite their cruelty, it must have been hard on her. Losing family always it," Meera rambled. She cut herself off; this time Ashella turned to glare at her, eyes alight with childish, only somewhat misdirected spite.

"All I am saying is that she deserves a bit more respect from you, my lady," Meera finished lamely. Having said her piece, she grabbed the bundle of sheets, bowed, and skittered away. Hearing the door click shut, Ashella pressed her forehead into the cool glass of the window and sighed.

A/N: One last thing, the actual story takes place several years from this event! (Ashella is much more interesting when she's older, I promise.) The next chapter will also probably have more connections to actual fairy tales.