PROLOUGE

It all started on a dark Christmas night, the rain poured harder than it has ever been in the kingdom, the palace stood proud and elegant while one glimmer of a lantern in the night disrupted the peace and tranquil vibe that the castle had once empowered. A sinister figure started to smile wickedly and the lantern soon revealed a beautiful but vein rat, who had a gold plated crown rest on her brow. Her black hair was tied in a bun, and her silver eyes darted across from her shadowed crew to the castle. She raised her voice which echoed through the forest they were hiding in: "There reign is over… the kingdom belongs to me now!"

"Your majesty, what about the new heir?" raised the voice of a thug, startling the other thugs who had no courage to speak.

She glanced and turned her head, still remaining an icy stare. "its no use to me if its dead now is it?" not allowing anyone to respond "Now here is the plan"….

Inside the castle the light of the fireplace sets the soft peaceful mood of the night. King Derek and Queen Laura stand in front of a soft lace cradle, where inside was making their heart skip a beat. Inside was a new edition to their family, a princess, soft and peaceful. She was only four days old, and the kingdom of toys rejoiced at the sight of a new heir, the whole kingdom knew that she would be the one to lead them to a prosperous future, when she becomes of age of course.

The sleeping babe resembled both of her parents. She had the light golden hair of her father, and the affectionate, lovable hazel eyes of her mother. "she's absolutely gorgoues Derek", exclaimed Laura, trying not to wake the baby. Derek whisperd "Of course she is, she will steal someone's heart one day like someone has stole mine" as he kissed his wife.

The moment was ruined when suddenly a brown fur mouse, in a white shirt, black vest, matching slacks and loafers ran into the room out of breath, almost passing out from exhaustion. "King…Derek.. the palace.." King derek shook the young mouse "Yes Andrews?! What is it? Spit it out boy!" the mouse finally spit It out at the end of his breath "the palace is under siege.. The rat queen sir, she has revolted against us.." The kings face turned blank and pale, he glanced at his wife who was now holding the baby in fear. He looked back at Andrews "Get my family out of here."

The queen interfeared "No, I made a vow when I married you Derek, till death do us part, I love you too much to know that you died protecting me.. but the baby.. she needs somewhere to go, I don't know what to do." The king looked at his queen, then back at the baby there was no hope for any of them, for once the king had a look of failure, and Andrews suddenly spurt up between the king and queen.

"I know a place, your highness, in my travels before becoming your servant I have discovered another world… the human world. The humans will take excellent care of her I assure you, there is an orphanage there, and a gentle woman who takes care of the orphans as if they were her own. I have been there numerous times, and she has spared my life and even fed me cheese and bread. If you will allow me, I can take the baby and watch after her as long as I live." He bowed at the end of his sentence, showing respect for both of the royals before him.

The king looked at the baby, and the queen who gave a sad but gentle nod, knowing the best for their child "Derek, it must be done." there was hard crashing sound coming from the first floor of the palace, making the decision more and more stressfull.

The king put a hand on Andrews's shoulder, who in return looked up with trust. "You may take her."

In about 15 minutes the baby was wrapped in a soft yellow cloth, while Andrews threw on an old black cloak that made his tan fur disappear. He finally got to hold the little baby while the queen rushed away to get something for the baby. He noticed how innocent the child was, he saw her look up at him and gurgled while reaching her small chubby hand out to touch his fur. He saw the queens hazel eyes and the kings thick brown hair. This child is my responsibility now..i will always look out for you.. I promise. His thoughts were cut off when the queen rushed in with a silver box.

"This was going to go to her when she turned 18." She said with a small smile "it is just a way for her to..always have a part of us.. even if she won't remember." Inside the box, resting inside the blue velvet fabric was a gold heart necklace. A gold chain held it up as she put it in Andrews hands. She looked up into Andrews face and hugged him as she whispered "Thank you."

The crashing inside the castle grew stronger, as the king pushed Andrews urgently handing him a red pouch "This is growth powder, this should be just enough to set her to the right size of the humans in that world, Take the secret passage, it's us they want, make sure they can't see you. Thank you again, my most trusted friend and servant." Andrews nodded in respect and went through the passage, as the stone wall closed the queen whispered as a tear rolled down King Derek's cheek

"Goodbye Rosalina, our little princess."

Andrews ran through the passageways making sure not to wake the baby. He held a torch up to find which way was the safest, he went through one door and saw the first floor of the castle. It was in shambles. The wall tapestries were ripped, the glass windows were broken, then he saw HER. The rat queen in all her glory, smiling wickedly and cackling as she ran up the stairs torwards the king and queen.

He finally ran out of the castle and into the forest, running out of breath as he reached the snow cave, running through until he reached the portal between the two worlds, it was a golden door, that with one touch on the solid gold doorknob that it opened. As he went through, he wondered what happened to the king and queen.

The king and queen watched out the window as Andrews disappeared out into the forest. There hopes for their Rosalina to live was put in his paws. They would not watch her take her first steps, speak her first word, or even watch her fall in love. The king embraced his wife as he heard her sob, but was short lived when he heard a soft chuckle behind them.

"How touching.."

"Griselda.." muttered the queen

"Oh my goodness! I forgot to congradulate you on your newest little…oh how do you humans say it..BRAT, ha ha ha ha" she exclaimed comically while still remaining her icy stare on them.

The king rose up defendently "That BRAT, is our daughter, and the rightful heir to the throne, and we have hidden her, so neither you or any other corrupted RAT can harm her." Putting much emphasis on Rat

Griselda twitched as she remained a clean smile, but behind her back she held an orb of light, which was much more powerful than any magic known. "So sad she won't be here to say goodbye to mummy and daddy.." with the end of that sentence she threw the orb of light at the couple, not giving them a chance to even speak.

ANDREWS P.O.V

The baby started to cry, and my maternal instincts are not the best, I took her over my shoulder and gently patted her back, which instantly made her stop and giggle at me and my embarrassing attempt at being a father. Through the long tunnel I finally reach another door, wooden, that gave me the chill as I touched it. It has not been tampered with for over 10 years.

I opened the door and watched to make sure no humans marched by, but I was glad to see a Christmas tree larger than life in the corner of the room, with over a dozen presents for the little children in the orphanage. I scattered past the staircase and through the hole in the front door. I set the baby down, and wrote her name on a piece of paper I had in my pocket then I opened the bag, scattering the glittery powder over her, and she reached her hands out as if it was small fairies playing peek-a-boo- with her.

The baby started to grow just as the king said, and stopped growing at what was seemed as a perfect babies length. I ran up the vine next to the door and pressed my body against the doorbell and left into the darkness.

The same lady I have encountered answered the door, looking the same as I first encountered her. She had her brown hair tied up in a messy bun allowing me to still see her soft caring brown eyes, with large round turtle specs, a blue sweater and a navy blue dress that reached her knees. She gazed down and gasped at the small child. She picked her up and noticed the note on the blanket.

"..Rosalina.." she whispered softly and smiled affectionately. I noticed she touched the heart necklace too, keeping it on the child.

The baby started to cry and the woman bounced her up and down, and started to hush the baby.

"shhh, its ok..Maggie's gonna take good care of you..Rosalina" and I knew in that instant that the king, queen and I made the right choice.

I whispered "goodnight princess."