The Pretend Princess

A squirrel steps in to give a princess a well-earned break.
Written especially for this podcast by Alice. 

If you enjoyed this story, please do leave us a review. 

And, if you'd like to suggest an animal for a future Animal Tales story, you can do so by emailing podcast@animaltales.uk. We would love to hear from you. 


Animal Tales Books!
Collections of Animal Tales children’s stories are available to buy exclusively at Amazon. Simply search for Animal Tales Short Stories or follow this link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CLJQZ9C9?binding=paperback&ref=dbs_dp_sirpi


Become a PREMIUM Subscriber
You can now enjoy Animal Tales by becoming a Premium Subscriber. This gets you:

• All episodes in our catalogue advert-free

• Bonus Premium-only episodes (one per week) which will never be used on the main podcast

• We guarantee to use one of your animal suggestions in a story

Speaker 1: Yale. Hello everyone, and welcome to the Animal Tales podcast,

where you suggest the animal for us to write a

story about. My name's Josephine and I've got a brand

new animal story here just for you. Lia is from

Gorway in Ireland, and she would like a story with

a rabbit, a squirrel, and an emu. You can learn

more about these creatures in the animal facts after the story. Now,

settle back, relax, and I'll begin the pretend. Princess Leah

was busy doing what squirrels enjoy doing, collecting acorns. She

was doing this under her favorite tree when a rabbit

wearing a tiara burst from the bushes and crashed into her. Hey,

Leah cried, dropping her arm full of acorns. Which way

you're going? I'm terribly sorry. Did I hurt you? The

rabbit asked, helping Leah to her feet. I'm okay, confirmed

Leah as she brushed herself down. What's all the hurry,

I've run away from home? The rabbit admitted. My job

was proving too much. Oh, said Leah. Are you a

doctor or maybe a firefighter? A detective? Even? No, said

the rabbit, shyly, I'm a princess. Leah gasped. That would

explain the tiara on the rabbit's head. Then you must

be Princess Fiona, said the squirrel. The rabbit smiled and

nodded her head. What's so difficult about being a princess

that you need to run away, Leah asked. It's a

lot of work, Princess Fiona explained, and not as much

fun as you might think it might be. I needed

a break from it all, so I ran away. But

everyone will be so worried about you, Leah said, I know,

the rabbit sniffled, But I just need some time a day,

perhaps to do what I want instead of what's expected

of me. The rabbit really did look like she meant it,

so Leah found herself saying, maybe I can help, so

you can have a break without everyone worrying. But we've

only just met, said the rabbit, in surprise. It will

be fun, Leah explained. I'll do some of the tasks

you want to avoid. I like that idea, said the rabbit,

perking up. But my royal adviser won't. We'd have to

dress you up for the part, but my clothes are

too big for a squirrel luckily smiled Lea, I have

the perfect costume in my wardrobe. A little later, Lea

was waltzing up to the castle, wearing her fanciest dress,

with her long bushy tail tucked up into a cute

little bunny's cotton tail on her head. She wore a

pair of fake bunny ears. Incredibly, she looked remarkably like

the princess. At the castle's doors, she was met by

a worried looking EMU. This Princess Fiona had explained, was

her royal adviser, Emmett. Where have you been, your majesty,

Emmett chastised, I was worried sick. I'm terribly sorry, said Lea,

trying to copy the rabbit's voice. I er went for

a walk. You really should take a night with you,

Princess Fiona. You shouldn't be out alone, emit said, squinting

at her. You look different, he said, do, I replied Lea. Er,

I'm just tired from all the walking. Well, I do,

hope you've enough energy left for to day's busy schedule,

the EMU said, leading the way into the castle. The

little squirrel smiled with glee. It was working. What would

she get to do first? Inspect the beautiful gardens, make

some one a knight, try on some pretty dresses. As

it turned out, emmett led her straight to the Great Hall,

stopping before the large doors. The King of hollow Wood

is waiting for you, Emit said quietly. All you need

to do is sign the peace treaty between the two kingdoms.

Your majesty, sign a peace treaty. This didn't sound like

much fun, Leah thought, but she would get to meet

a king from a different kingdom. That would be something

very well, said Leah. Lead the way. The animals in

the Great Hall fell silent as Leah entered, lowering their

heads in respect. As she passed, she was guided to

a chair beside a smiling jackal. Your majesty, said emmet.

Bowing to the jackal. In turn, Leah said, greeting's your highness.

It is a pleasure to meet you, but we've met

several times already, answered the confused king, er said the squirrel,

I mean it's a pleasure to meet you again, She said,

It's always a pleasure. The jackal grunted, not sure what

to make of it. Instead, he dipped his quill tip

into the pot of ink and signed the paper in

front of him. Your turn, Princess Fiona, he said. Lea

did what was expected of her, remembering to sign it

as Princess Fiona. Great, said the King, standing up. We'll

be off. Aren't you going to stay for lunch? Leah asked,

Lunch with a king sounded like it could be no

end of fun. No, thank you, said the jackal abruptly,

I have much to attend to back home. And with that,

the King and his entourage swept from the Great Hall,

leaving only Leah, Emmett, and a handful of knights behind.

That was disappointing, said Lea. I think it went perfectly,

Emmett replied Leah, though thought that they could have at

least talked for a while. So what's next, she asked

the EMU. Why the same as every week? Replied Emmet,

you're weekly tour of the town. Now this sounded exciting.

Lea decided she would get to walk around the city

as a princess. All eyes would be on her. This

was more like it. Emmett led the way to the

courtyard to where a wondrous carriage awaited. It was white

with golden trim. Lea almost jumped for joy. Once inside,

the gates opened and they headed into the town. The

streets were lined with animals who lived beyond the castle,

all cheering and waving as she passed. How could Princess

Fiona be fed up with this? When do we stop?

Leah asked, I can't wait to meet them properly? You

want to stop, gasped Emmet. We can't do that, your majesty.

It's a loop of the city then straight back home,

like we always do. Er of course, said Leah quickly.

But why can't the animals meet their princess? We simply

don't have time, Emmett spluttered, And besides it could be dangerous.

Leah was very disappointed. She couldn't talk to the king,

and now she couldn't talk to her own people. Was

there any one a princess was allowed to talk to?

As they rolled back through the castle gates, Emmett said,

nicely done, as always, your majesty, was it? Replied Leah.

Will the next engagement on the list be equally as exciting? Well,

your majesty, it is a big one, answered the EMU. Finally,

thought Leah. Something interesting. Prince Mudley and his father adjoining

us for dinner, Emmett said happily, before looking at her sternly.

May I request that you be nice, your majesty, and

don't try to sneak out like you did last time. Leah, though,

wasn't really listening. She was concentrating on the part about

dinner with a prince. What amazing food would be served

and what would this Prince Mudley be like? At the

banqueting hall, everything was in place, the long table looked magnificent,

and the guests were already waiting. Lea's gaze wandered over them,

trying to guess which one was the charming prince. As

she followed the EMU to her seat, he sat her

next to a large, lumpy toad. Prince Mudley, said emmet

Acknowledging the prince, Leah had to hide her disappointment. She

hadn't been expecting a toad staff appeared carrying trays of

food that were laid out before them. There were dishes

upon dishes, and all of it looked stupendous. As the

disguised squirrel dug in with enthusiasm, she noticed that the

toad prince kept reaching for her hand. Not knowing what

to do, she beckoned emmet over to whisper in his ear.

He keeps trying to hold my hand. Leah hissed, well,

of course, your majesty, The EMU replied, you are to

be married, after all. Marry, squeaked Leah. Oh, now, princess,

please do behave Emmett muttered, You've made it perfectly clear

that Prince Mudley is not your first choice, or perhaps

not even your sixth or seventh. But love isn't everything.

A princess must marry a prince, and Prince Mudley is

a good match. It's for the kingdom, after all. The

squirrel's heart broke a little for Princess Fiona. Not only

was the Royal Rabbit never allowed to do what she

wanted or speak to who she wanted, but now it

turned out she couldn't marry who she wanted either. No

wonder the rabbit had run away. The life of a

princess wasn't fun at all. It was all rules and

orders and doing what you're told. Leah was fed up

of it, and she'd only had to do it for

one day. To morrow, when Princess Fiona returned, she would

have to do this for the rest of her life.

It didn't seem fair. Lea, though, was a squirrel who

didn't like unfairness. She pushed her plate away forcefully. Princess hissed, Emmett,

what are you doing? Liah stood up abruptly, planning on

storming from the room in protest. Unfortunately, she rose up

into a member of staff carrying a tray of salad,

lettuce and cucumber. Crashed to the floor along with her

fake rabbit ears. Princess your ears, the EMU cried. Lia

reached up, feeling only her own squirrel ears. She yelped

in surprise, causing her tucked away tail to spring out.

That's not Princess Fiona, some one cried, that's a squirrel. Immediately,

chaos irrupted Castle's staff and the royal guests were shouting, pointing,

and waving their hands in the air. It was all

too much, so Leah stood on her chair and in

her most booming voice, yelled quiet. The room fell instantly silent.

You are correct, I am not Princess Fiona, she said.

The princess is safely tucked away in my home where

she's having a nice, peaceful, relaxing day all to herself.

But why, Emmett stuttered, because being a princess, as I've discovered,

is one disappointment after another. Leah explained. I thought it

would mean having fun and feeling pretty and doing whatever

I wanted, But instead I've been rushed around, not allowed

to talk to anyone, and made to do as I'm told.

The princess is expected to care about all these things

she's asked to do, but nobody seems to care about

the princess. That's not true, Emmett blustered, Really, Leah scoffed,

you didn't even notice I wasn't the real princess, and

you're around her every day. Come on, my costume wasn't

that good. The room fell silent. Everyone felt embarrassed. You

need to pay attention to what your princess wants, Leah continued. Otherwise,

I'm not so sure she'll want to come back. I

I was just trying to do my job. The EMU

said sadly, I know, acknowledged Leah. But you have to

have some fun every once in a while too. Prince Mudley,

who had remained seated throughout this, stood up. I know

something that may help, he said. I'd like to call

off the engagement. Every One in the room gasped, I

never really wanted to marry Fiona. He admitted, she's too

fluffy for me. Emmett was dabbing his forehead with a handkerchief.

And I suppose I could h help her meet some

of the town's people. That's great, Leah beamed. That will

make her feel much better, and it did too. Leah

collected Princess Fiona from her home, returning her to the

castle the Follower. There, the princess was greeted by Emmett,

who told her she could have the morning off. He

apologized for not seeing she was so sad and so

Princess Fiona apologized for running away. Leah suddenly felt out

of place, so she made her excuses about leaving. But

must you go so soon? The princess asked, you don't

need me now. The squirrel replied, I should leave you

to it. Far from it, said Princess Fiona. I think

you've shown us all that things can be done differently,

but I'm sure there's a lot more to be done.

Why don't you stick around. I guess it will be

more fun now, admitted Leah. And you'll need a new

dress or two, smiled the rabbit, Leah grinned. Then let's

do it, she said. Animal fact, the proper name for

a female rabbit is a dough, while male rabbits are

called bucks. Rabbits live in large groups called a colony,

working together to dig extensive underground burrows or warrens. When

winter is around the corner, squirrels get digging too. They're

not building a home, but burying food. This hidden larder

is for the cold months ahead, and squirrels are surprisingly

good at finding what food they've put away. Emues are

the second largest bird after the ostrich, and like the ostrich,

they are also flightless. They still have wings, though, which

they use to help steer themselves when running. Thank you

for your lovely suggestions, Leah. We hope that you are

all enjoyed the story wherever you're listening in the world.

Make sure you join us next time for another great

animal tale. Good Bye,