Good morning everyone, Happy Friday! I know the prologue was a bit slow so I put chapter 1 up sooner than I had planned to give a better feel for how the story will go. I again welcome suggestions for the story's plot, characters, scenes you want to see, feelings you want me to explore or develop. I would love to become a better writer. In this chapter, I wanted to explore Kit's mother more since most fairy tales start after the mother dies.

Disclaimer: I own nothing that looks or sounds like Disney or else I would be a princess in a parade once every year :)


Chapter 1 Strangers Like Me

Before his mother had passed, she was a great source of joy to the King and to Kit. She was light hearted and delighted greatly in music, dancing, and telling fanciful stories. While his brothers would grow bored and run off to fence or box, Kit would listen to her tell stories of animals that could talk, forests full of magic and wood nymphs, girls who turned into animals, for hours. Kit and the Queen would also spend time together in the Queen's private garden. They would plant and weed and have picnics together. She would push him on a swing until he would swear that one more push and he could fly.

One bright spring morning when Kit was seven years old, he had run to the Queen's rooms with a hand packed basket of apples and sticky buns to surprise his mother with a picnic in her garden. But, when he entered her room, instead of seeing his mother in a fancy gown with her circlet on her curly light brown hair, he saw his mother wearing a plain grey dress with a pink scarf covering her hair. Kit puzzled over her change in appearance but decided it didn't matter.

"Mother, did you want to have a picnic today?" Kit asked holding out his basket with an eager smile.

"What a lovely idea Kit" The queen smiled lovingly at her youngest. But then frowned slightly as she continued "I am afraid I have something else I need to do today. Why don't you ask one of your brothers?"

Kit scuffed his shoe on the ground. "They don't like the garden and they always get bored and then start to teas- they seem busy today."

The queen sighed, she tried to have all the boys get along and while she never saw them fight in front of her, she knew that Kit was often ignored or left out by his older brothers.

"I see…. perhaps you could…don't see what harm it could possibly do…besides you should meet the people" she trailed of thoughtfully as she studied Kit.

"What people?" Kit's ever present curiosity perked up at the sound of something new and different.

The queen smiled, her mind made up. "Kit, would you like to help me with my task? It won't be a picnic but perhaps you will learn to like it as much as I have."

"Sure, mother. What are we doing? Does it have to do with your new dress? Kit babbled, excited at the idea of a new adventure and that someone thought he could actually help with something.

"Yes, Kit it does." She smiled brightly. "I am going to take some of the extra food and clothes we have here at the castle and bring them to some people in the town."

"But why?" Kit wondered aloud as they made their way to Kit's room to get him a change of clothes.

"Because they need them and we have more than enough to spare." The queen answered.

Kit thought about this answer for a long time as he and the queen headed toward the village. He had never thought about being in need before.

Just before they got there, Kit spoke up. " So, if we give our extra food, then everyone will have enough?"

"Not everyone darling, but more people will have what they need." The queen spoke truthfully.

Kit nodded at this statement, thinking how sad it was that not everyone was happy. He straightened his small shoulders and marched more determinedly beside his mother, proud to be helping her with such a noble task.

The queen and Kit then proceeded to hand out extra coats, shirts, and bread to villagers that needed them. The queen had learned which townhouses to go to and to stop by the church for those who lived farther out in the country. Kit followed behind her, in awe of how she seemed to just what to say to put people at ease. She was smiled cheerily at everyone and asked them many questions about their lives. Kit had never seen people look quite so rough looking but he soon stopped noticing the dirt, rips, and scars as the villagers began to say hello and smile at him. Kit, used to being ignored by all but his father and mother or frowned at by his nannies for asking too many questions and getting dirty, was soon smiling and talking to people just like the queen. He even found the courage to offer up some of the apples from his picnic basket to some of the younger children.

He clammed up when he saw other boys his age and just observed them. He saw that most of them were very different from his brothers, they weren't afraid to get dirty and they laughed with each other and everyone seemed to be having fun. Why couldn't he and his brothers have fun like that?

He wondered if they would like him or if he was too different.

Kit grew quiet after having that thought.

The queen noticed his unusual quietness on the walk back to the castle.

"Kit, it was very nice of you to give away your apples. What did you think of today? Did you like it?"

Her words distracted Kit from his worries and he rushed to reassure his mother lest she not take him with her again or trust him to help with something.

"It was really fun, I have never met so many people before and they all seemed happy to see us even though no one bowed." Kit answered, words pouring out in an excited rush. "I like smiling better than bowing". He added decisively with a firm nod.

"Yes, I like seeing them too. Once a month, I take the extra clothes and food we have and visit the village. And the reason no one bowed was because only the priest and one shopkeeper knew I was the queen and you were a prince."

"Why don't we want anyone to know we are royalty? And could I come with you again?" Kit asked earnestly.

"Of course you can, my darling." The queen was happy to find someone willing to join her.

"We just have to remember not to wear our fancy clothes or crowns. We don't have to lie about whom we are but it is best not to draw attention. People sometimes behave strangely around royalty and don't treat us like ordinary people."

The queen continued, growing more serious. "It is very important to remember, Kit, that being royal just gives us more responsibility to care for others and to ensure justice is carried out, that people are treated fairly and valued. We are not gods to be worshipped but rulers to protect and nurture our people and do our best to keep the peace."

"So, I am just like those village boys?" Kit asked, hoping to hear that he was, that he wasn't too different, then perhaps he could find friends, like he had read about in books and seen today in the village.

"In a way Kit." The queen answered thoughtfully. "You may not be better than anyone else, but that doesn't mean that you aren't just as good" she said with a teasing smile as she poked him in the nose.

"You are also very special in your own way." The queen ruffled his hair and thought of his way with animals and how he listened with joy to her stories of magic and how easily he found room in his heart for the people. He truly was her pride and joy.

Kit just turned red and looked at the ground before shyly smiling back at his mother. He knew he would never forget this day as long as he lived.