Disclaimer: I do not Own Ella Enchanted (I wish I was the creative genius behind it :'( ) Gail CArson Levine does, and I hope she makes more books to go with it!

Ella's Childhood had been uneventful, She had been raised in a small house in England with her parents. Her Dad had been away a lot on Trips to Japan, during his short times at home he would bring her wonderful presents, mostly candy, but her favorite was when he brought home a Fist sized Stuffed Panda with Blue eyes. Her Mother was an interior decorator, and would be away once a week or so making peoples houses livable. Then. . . When Ella was Sixteen and away at summer camp, her Parents both died instantly in a car accident...

The only thing I kept was my journal, my panda and my mothers Sapphire bracelet, though I am surprised I managed to keep even that. Everything my parents owned went to fund their funeral. I never thought a funeral could be so expensive, As I stood by their freshly covered grave's Pastor Chock came up to me and as gently as he could, informed me that I would have to go stay with my Grandmother in Ireland, Since she is my closest relative and had insisted I come stay with her. The Pastor said the flight would leave tomorrow morning and he was going to escort me personally, being a close friend of my mothers. I didn't say anything, so he just drove me home, and after making sure I was alright, went home himself. The house, for that is all it is anymore, looks empty and sorrowful, I decide to Pack what little I have left and Sleep in the tree house in the backyard.

I wake with the dawn, hastily running inside, showering and changing before the pastor arrives to take me to grandmothers.

The flight was uneventful, I have been on Airplanes many times before, and have never enjoyed it, this time was no exception. We arrived around 9pm, It was dark. My Grandmother met us at the airport, "oh, dear. You make me sound so old! Call me Mandy." She said as she lead me to her Pick-up truck. Pastor Chock had scheduled a flight home, and had stayed at the airport.

Mandy is a little shorter than I am, very strong, and looks Surprisingly young, she could have been my Aunt, with fiery red hair and flashing green eyes, she was a sight to behold.

The drive was dreadfully silent. "Where do you live?" I finally tried after a half an hour of smothering silence. "You'll see soon enough, Has anyone ever told you how much you look like your Mother?" She asked Hesitantly. "No." More Silence.

The place we stopped at was a renovated castle, for a second I just stared in surprise. "oh, No dear that isn't my place!" Mandy said laughing, "I live in that building over there." she said indicating with her finger to a much smaller two story building. 'That building' turned out to be a cozy four bedroom cottage, and as I soon found out, connected to the main Kitchen. "The Main building belongs to the main family, It has been theirs for as long as anyone can remember, them being descendants of a line of Ancient Kings and all. The small buildings surrounding it and the first and top floors are where guests and hired hands stay." That interested me, "Do they hold any political power now?" I asked. "Land sakes no, They are royalty in name and estate, no further, though us hired hand enjoy calling them by titles. I'll have you know now that I'm their cook, and I'm expecting you to help me out, be my assistant and such. I'll let you get settled and Show you what I'll need you to be doing."

As it turns out the work wasn't hard, My job was really just to pass her whatever ingredients she needed from the vast cabinets and pantries, Stir Things on the stove and do inventory. The times I didn't have any chores I would wander the grounds, Ireland truly is as beautiful as everyone claims. The first morning I looked out the window in my room I couldn't stifle a gasp at the vivid greens and blues of the Irish morning. Life was just about getting to a normal flow after a few days when one of the "Prince's" Guests Decided to come down into the Kitchen for a in-between meals snack . . .