The Tale of the Rolling Peach

Chapter V

This song is so beautiful. Was listening to it while typing :3

"There you go. All clean!" Tap dried the peach in a fluffy towel and carried her into Momo's new bedroom. The sunset dimmed the room slowly and the grasshoppers began their tunes in the gardens.

"Are you sure a bed is alright for this one? She is quite small." Tap said to Aud as she placed sleepy Momo between the sheets.

"TK and I couldn't find anything smaller, but this should be fine." the princess reassured. She kissed the top of Momo's head before walking out the door with the witch, leaving the peach to dive into the world of dreams.

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"Time for bed sweetheart." The little girl pouted as her mother finished brushing through her thick locks. "But I'm not tired!"

Ignoring her protests, the mother tucked the child in bed. Still pouting, the girl pushed the covers off, undoing her mother's work.

"I want to go the party too! It's not fair! Why can't I go too?"

"Because you're still a little girl." the woman answered her daughter clearly yet tenderly. She got up and walked over to a bookshelf near the toy chest and pulled out a book. "How about a bedtime story? Will that satisfy my pouty sprite?"

The child's face quickly brightened, "Yes! Oh yes, please Mama! I want a bedtime story!"

Smiling, the woman walked back over and sat next to her daughter, who pulled the covers back up and waited patiently. She was careful not to wrinkle her evening gown for the party being held that night.

"Ready?" she opened up the book of fantasies and began to read.

"Once upon a time, there was a magical kingdom where all creatures great and small lived in harmony...."

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Momo snuggled under the covers more, annoyed by the bright light that pierced through the window and, somehow, the curtains too. She rolled out of the thick covers and towards the glass doors and pushed it open. Sounds of the singing birds echoed through the trees. A light breeze made the leaves dance of the stems that connected them to its parent.

For a moment, she tried to think of the dream she had, but majority had already disappeared from her thoughts. All she could remember was 'once upon a time...'

A neigh broke her thoughts. Momo looked out to the gardens where she saw TK who seemed to be grooming a horse. Curiosity struck her but its interest was too weak to take effect on the peach to go down where the knight stood.

Taking a deep breath, the fruit smelled a sweet scent and followed it aimlessly.

In the kitchen was freshly baked scones that Momo helped herself a couple too. Around this time, Princess Audelia came into the room holding a pot of coffee. She smiled and held back her giggle when she saw the still tired peach dosing off once again on the kitchen island, a small drool coming from her mouth.

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"Look at them. Aren't they pretty?" A small group of young girls stood by the corner of the grand entrance, looking into the ballroom filled with suited men and women dressed in their finest gowns.

"It's too bad we can't join ourselves."

The little girl stepped away from the entrance, "But we can. We shall have our own ball!" Then, without a moment's hesitation, the child ran down the long corridor. The other girls joined seconds later and the hall was filled with gentle giggles as they ran and spun around with one another like nymphs. The golden jewels in their hair shinned when the light from the chandeliers touched them. Their silk dresses flowed behind them, making each girl appear more graceful and elegant.

Guards and servants who saw them only smiled at their lightness and innocence, letting them enjoy the feeling of youth and freedom.