Since Princess Alyssa and Sonya had commanded the same thing Derek had absolutely no choice about what she did next. She took the proffered brush and returned to the foot of the jungle gym and looked up at the Princess. After giving another curtsy she spoke to Alyssa. 'Your Highness. I have a brush. Do you still want me to fix your hair'
'Yes Darlene. You can come up here and do my hair' Alyssa replied with a beaming smile on her face. Derek climbed up to sit behind Alyssa and began gently running the brush through Alyssa's long light brown hair.
For the next 10 minutes Derek found herself a captive audience as she brushed the girls hair. Derek discovered all about Alyssa's fantasy world. Alyssa's Mother was evidently the Queen while Cole was her younger brother but for some reason, Derek couldn't comprehend Cole wasn't a prince, just a knight. He was "Sir Cole" and his job was to make sure that 'The Watson's don't come'. Evidently the Watson kids were neighbours who didn't give royalty the appropriate diffidence. It appeared that Emily Watson was until yesterday Alyssa's best friend. Now they were bitter enemies.
Derek was then subjected to a barrage of questions about herself. She found herself bound to answer as if she really was Darlene, Sonya's 7 year old sister, giving Sonya's address and saying she attended the primary school Sonya had once attended. Try as she might Derek could not leave the jungle gym, and return to Sonya who was the only person capable of taking the transformation/obedience collar off Derek's neck.
Seemingly satisfied with "Darlene's" answers, Princess Alyssa declared 'You're a much better Lady in waiting than Emily. You can be my new best friend'
'I am honoured your Highness'
'You can also be Sir Cole's betrothed. I dub you Lady Darlene and you can marry Cole once you are both grown ups'
Derek cringed inside looking down at the snotty nosed 8 year old boy who was currently apparently trying to catch some sort of animal in some nearby shrubs. She wanted to say "No Thanks" but the words 'Why thank-you. I am honoured my princess' came out of her mouth.
'Come on. Let's go to the swings. You can push me'
Soon after Derek found herself doing exactly that. She had no choice but to do everything that Alyssa commanded. Derek looked pleadingly across towards Sonya, but could not catch her eye, as Sonya was talking to a woman with short brown hair. At least the princess took a turn to push Darlene on the swing. Derek had to admit it was actually fun to be a kid on a swing again, she found herself squealing with delight, as the swing reached the horizontal, though she did have trouble stopping her dress from blowing up and exposing her panties while hanging on.
Derek's turn on the swing was interrupted by a woman scolding 'Alyssa! You know not to push your friends so high. Just swing gently or your little friend will go flying off'
'Sorry Mum. This is Darlene. She is my new best friend' Derek looked at the woman. She was the woman who had been talking to Sonya. She was the Queen.
'I thought Emily was your best friend?'
'We are not talking anymore'
'Very well. It's time to go. I need to start preparing dinner' the woman then turned to Derek 'It's nice to meet you Darlene. Perhaps we might run into you another time'
'Mummy. Can Darlene come over for a play date?'
'I'm not sure Alyssa. Darlene is only here with her sister'
Then Derek heard Sonya reply 'I think Darlene would love to have a play date with you. Wouldn't you Darlene?'
By this stage the swing had come to a stop and Derek had hopped off. She was horrified at what came out of her mouth. 'I'd like that very much' It was the last thing Derek wanted to say but she was compelled by the collar to obey.
'Very well' replied the Queen. She turned to Sonya. 'How about I give you my number. If your mother is happy, get her to give me a call and we can arrange a date and time'
Derek found herself returning Alyssa's wave as the girl accompanied her mother and Derek's betrothed to a nearby car. Only once the car had driven off did she turn to Sonya and say. 'Okay, you have had your fun, let's get out of here so you can change me back and get this collar off'
Sonya just giggled in reply before turning to walk back towards Derek's car.