She'd be waiting at the ivy-covered wall outside of the palace, just singing and waiting for Papa to come back out, when suddenly a big ball of shawls collided right into her. They'd both fall backward with an "oof!" and she'd rub her head and squint through the pain. When she climbed up to her feet, she'd walk over, a little mad and a lot curious, until the shawls slipped away, and a girl with hair more golden than the sun slowly sat up. The princess!

They'd circle each other like suspicious horses until finally they'd both grin. "My papa's at the castle!" "Mine too!" "Let's go to the market place; they won't even notice we're gone!" And she'd grab the princess' hand and lead her into the market, where the funny fat lady sat with her funny dog and Nime danced with her betrothed and there were cakes full of warm fruit and topped with whipped cream. They'd beg masks off the weird mask seller so definitely no one would recognize the princess, then they run around, trying to catch the butterflies. When they'd get hungry, she'd steal piping fresh pies from careless ol' Postrama; afterward the princess would sneak back to the stand to leave a few ruppees to pay for them.

Finally the sun would pass midday, and the princess, with grass stains on her knees, raspberry stains on her cheeks, and hands brown from the mud, would look up and sigh a bit. Having someone to play with - having a place to play away from the servants and guards and teachers - having a secret that Papa would never discover... Then she'd have the greatest idea ever! If she wore the princess' cowl and if the princess tied Malon's bandanna over her hair, they could switch places!

Really?

Really!

Living in the castles with knights and princes from far away countries! She'd dreamt about being a princess every single day for as long as she could remember. Who wouldn't want to be a princess? She'd have a stable full of her own horses and baths with hot water and wouldn't have to sweep ever again! And so then they'd run to behind the old temple where no one ever went and she'd yank off her dress and the princess would carefully take off her shawls and gown. And then once they switched clothes, the princess would tuck their hair away and they'd circle each other again, inspecting every angle.

And then -

And then!

And then they'd go back to the ivy-covered wall and Papa would be driving the cart slowly their way. But instead of running up and jumping in, she'd duck behind a rock and the princess would climb up next to Papa and smile all the way back to the ranch. And then once they were gone, she'd run out and sneak through the gate and through the kitchen and up into her very own bedroom in her very own castle.

And she'd finally be Princess Malon!

And then -

And then!

And then the maids and ladies in waiting would slowly disappear, fleeing in the night to escape their new king. And then the knights would die with scimitars in their throats. And then she'd sit in an empty throne room, trapped by new guards who slid back and forth in front of the doors like tigers trapped in cages. And then she'd join the king, propped on his lap while he pulled magic out of yellowing scrolls or pieced together chattering skeletons. And then at night she'd sit on the bed, washed and brushed like a prize horse.

Who wouldn't want to be a princess?