I'm not one much for Disney Fanfictions (or at least I never saw myself writing them) but I have been needing some Disney magic in my life recently, so I went back and watched the classics. Many months ago, I saw Cinderella on TV (not for the first time, of course) but I had forgotten how good the movie was. Afterwards, a little plot bunny was born, taking little hops here and there until finally turning into this. So, I decided to write it down. Enjoy!
Disney France actually came up with the name for the Prince, I tried to be as canon as possible, but sometimes there just isn't any information and you have to make things up. The movie is supposed to take place in 17th century France, after the version of the book it was adapted from. So that's my setting.
I also have no planned schedule for this, so Que Sera. I don't own Cinderella, obviously, Disney does.
The young girl gave one last gasping sob as the iron latch refused to budge. She could hear the sounds of the couch leaving. The Grand Duke was gone, and so was her chance to be with her prince.
"I guess I don't get my happy ending after all." Cinderella whispered to herself. "Maybe…maybe last night was all the wish that would come true." She stayed crouched, letting her hand slide across the wood of the door. "But it was all worth it…it doesn't even matter."
"We's a sorry, Cinderelly." Jaq said as he slid under the door. "If a only we had more time."
"It's not your fault Jaq. Not your's nor Gus'. It was my selfish step mother." She said, with a nod.
"Whatcha gonna do now, Cinderelly?"
Cinderella sighed as her hands fell into her lap. "I don't know. I guess…I shall go back to the way things were. Working as a servant in my own home." The thought alone brought more tears to her eyes. "Alone."
"Aww, please-a don't cry Cinderelly. You have us, right right?"
She simpered. "I supposed I do, don't I? Thank you Jaq." The young girl sat up and straightened her clothes. "No use crying about things in the past, right?" Still, despite what she said, her heart ached anyway.
"Cinderelly still has flipper to remember the ball, yes yes?" Gus pointed to the glass shoe sitting on her vanity.
"Yes…And I should probably wrap it up, for safe keeping you know. If one of them finds out about it…"
"Brick-a-brack." Jaq finished.
"Exactly." Cinderella stashed the slipper into an old shoe box, lined with cloth, and hid it snuggly under her bed.
Not soon after she finished her deed, did the Lady Tremaine unlocked her door. "You can come out now. There are chores to be finished."
"Why did you do that?" Cinderella asked.
"Do what?"
"Lock me up here to keep me from being fitted by the grand duke."
"Dear, I did no such thing. I kept you out of the way from being seen from the Grand Duke, yes, but you should thank me. How would you have liked him to have seen you like this? In rags, ashes on your face? You would have been humiliated." The stepmother lifted her skirts and gracefully walked back to the stairwell. "I was looking out for your best interest. Besides, even if you had fit the slipper…the prince wouldn't marry a scullery maid." With that final word, she left the room.
Cinderella slumped into a chair by a her vanity. "She's right. He never would have approached me if I had been there like this."
"But he loves Cinderelly!"
"It doesn't matter…he's a prince." She couldn't help but smile. "I danced with the Prince."
"You should go talk to him!" Perla exclaimed. "He'll keep waiting for you if you don't!"
"I guess you're right. It wouldn't be fair to him…oh but how do I talk to him?"
"Cinderelly pretend to go shopping! Mean lady and step sisters can't-a stop her then!"
"Good idea, Jaq!"
"Zut zut, Cinderelly, zut zut!"
"CINDERELLLLLA!" A choir echoed from downstairs.
"I suppose I do have chores to do…I'll have to wait until afterwards, or else they might become suspicious."
Unfortunately for Cinderella, her break wouldn't come until late in the evening, after everyone else had gone to bed. They had made quite sure that she would be occupied. The step sisters were practically torturing her as a way to make themselves feel better. She had even been slapped by Drizella, not for doing anything wrong, mind you, but just because she could.
After the cleaning was finished, Jaq and Gus climbed down the chandelier and lit the candles in the foyer as the rest of the mice watched from the banister. Cinderella had gone back to the previous night where she met her true love. She danced with her ghost Prince, imagining the feeling of being in his arms again.
"So this is love…hmmm…." She sang to the silent music. "So this is love…so this is what makes life divine…" In her mind, she was back at the castle, in the beautiful courtyard. She was in love, that much, she knew. "My heart has wings…and I can fly…I'll touch every star in the sky…" Then she remembered how close she was to kissing him, just interrupted by that stupid clock. "So this is love…"
"Cinderelly, you have to go see Princy! Happy ever after!"
The maid cast a glance out the window over to the castle that was lit up in the night. "I'll do it."
"That's-a girl!"
The next morning, Cinderella rose with the sun, after being barely able to sleep the night before. She prepared her breakfast as usual. She fed the chickens, Bruno, and Lucifer as usual. Then it came time to deliver the trays. She climbed the stairs, each tray balanced perfectly.
"Good Morning Drizella," she spoke walking into her stepsister's room.
"Well! Took you long enough! Where's my creme?! You know I won't take tea without creme."
"We're out, Drizella, I'm going to get some today."
"You need to pay better attention! Get more creme before we run out next time! And clean up this room and do my laundry sometime today, okay? I'd like it before the sun sets!"
"Yes Drizella." She left the room only to go into Anastasia's. "Good Morning Anastasia."
"I don't see how it is, since you haven't opened my curtains yet! And I'm not marrying the prince, so what's the point of even getting out of bed?!"
Cinderella hated mornings where she had to give a pep talk to the girls who only put her down. "Now Anastasia, that's no way to go around." Her words sounded so fake in her ears. "You've got your own kind of charm that's one of a kind, you'll find someone wonderful some day."
"I bet that's what you tell yourself everyday, don't you?" She snarked.
"You got me, Anastasia. I'm going into town to go shopping today, is there something in particular you'd like for dinner?"
Anastasia perked up in the prospects of food. "Shrimp and roasted Salmon quiche, and then chocolate mousse for desert." She always had to pick the expensive food.
"Yes Anastasia."
"And don't forget the sage, that makes it taste so much better."
"I will make sure it's on the list."
Anastasia smiled like a fat cat.
Cinderella finished her morning routine with the last room. "Good Morning Stepmother."
"Good morning child, I trust that you've finished your morning chores?"
"Yes ma'am."
"You've opened the curtains? Lit the fires? Cared for the animals?"
"Yes ma'am, all of it."
"Good. Then you're right on track for the day."
"Um, today is my shopping day, you know." She spoke softly.
"Speak up child, you know I hate it when you whisper."
"I need to go into town today, for groceries."
"Ah, I see." The stepmother stirred her tea. "I suppose I will have to give you money to make the purchases."
"I will come to you when I am ready to leave."
"Cinderella." The step mother spoke sternly.
"Yes ma'am?"
"Stay away from the castle."
"Yes step mother…"
"And take that basket of ironing. And don't forget to get creme while you're out!"
"Yes, step mother." Cinderella bowed humbly and left the room. As she walked back to the kitchen, she mumbled to herself. "I can't wait to get out of here."
Soon enough, her chores were finished and she was released to go into town. But she anticipated her stepmother questioning everything she was doing, and set the box with the glass slipper outside, hidden. Equipped with a list and a basket, Cinderella approached the door to leave.
"Remember my dear, stay away from the castle."
"Yes ma'am." She couldn't help but think, 'what are you going to do if I don't?' But regardless, she said nothing else, but left in silence. Cinderella took out the box from the bush she hid it under and walked her way into town.
As she traveled, thoughts of doubt and her step mother's words wormed their words into her head. 'What if he does not love me after he finds out I'm just a maid? What if he doesn't actually love me in the first place? What if someone else fit the slipper?' The barricade of negativity held strong as the beautiful castle neared closer and closer, sealing her fate with each step. Finally, she stopped in front of the entrance, the box waiting in her hands. She gulped as she froze on the steps.
"I can't do it…" she feared. "Not like this…"
One of the guards that was on duty the night of the ball recognized her. "Are you alright miss?" He questioned.
Startled, she let out a meek reply, "I'm here to see the Prince."
The guard raised an eyebrow. "Is he expecting you?"
"No…well, he could be…" She mumbled.
The guard felt sympathy on her shyness and humbleness. "The Prince doesn't take uninvited visitors, but if you talk to the Grand Duke inside, maybe you could get an audience with him or the King."
"Oh! Thank you very much," she curtsied. She started up the steps and went inside.
The building was as grand as it had been the night before. She felt smaller now though, because of her apparel. Three times handed down dress, ripped apron…and not to mention the stains, the patches, and the soot that persistently stayed on her skin because she never had a second to clean it all the way off. Her step mother was right, she was humiliated. But she couldn't back out now.
Out of the corner of her eye, she caught the Grand Duke coming out of side room. She recognized him from the night of the ball. No one else stood so peculiar. "Your Grace!" She called over to him.
He tensed, looking like he wanted nothing more than to run. But he stood patiently as she hurried over. "Please Sir, I—…"
"No doubt you want to try on the slipper, right?" He sighed. "I'll go fetch it."
She blushed, "No sir…actually..."
She had his attention, as he enjoyed a break in his tedious search. "Yes?"
"I would like an audience with the Prince. You see, I—…"
"Ramses!" Cinderella was interrupted when a tall, handsome young man waltzed over, wearing very fine clothes.
"Perfect!" The Grand Duke clapped. "Miss, here is the Prince. Sire, this young lady wishes to speak with you."
As her eyes met his, all the courage, everything she had been building up to say, it all vanished. She was left staring at him, basically in awe, as her mouth fought for words.
Realization dawned in his eyes, but he just tried to help her. "Yes, Miss?" He smiled.
Before she knew it, she was crying. When she realized she was, she tried to figure out why. Coming up with no answer, the tears rolled faster.
The Grand Duke panicked. "My Dear, whatever is the matter?"
"I-I-…" She simply stuttered.
Suddenly, she felt hands lifting her face, only to look straight into the Prince's brown eyes. "Look at you, your tears are running streaks on your face."
Embarrassed, she lifted a hand to wipe her face, but he stopped her, procuring a handkerchief and dabbing her face clean.
"There, all better."
The Grand Duke stood in shock. "Y-Y-Your Majesty! Do you know this young lady?"
The Prince smiled. "Of course, this is the girl I'm going to marry." His words hit her hard as a few more tears leaked out.
"But-But!" The Duke protested. "She's a servant! A lowly one at that!"
This time, Cinderella hung her head in despair. She knew it was all over. Yet again, the man surprised her by taking her into his arms and holding her close.
"No matter, I love her, and my Father said I could marry whom I wanted to."
"But how do you know it's her?" The Duke was still filled with doubt.
"I would recognize those cerulean eyes anywhere." He smiled down at her.
"It may be so, but before I tell your Father your decision, I would like some proof." He sighed. "I'll go get the shoe."
Cinderella finally came about herself. "Your Grace! There is no need!" She stooped a retrieved the box from the floor, where it had ended in her state of anxiety. She popped the lid. "I have the other slipper."
The Grand Duke practically shouted for joy. "I'm going to live!" Then he cleared his throat. "If the shoe fits, that is." He took the glass slipper from it's holding and handed it to the Prince. "Would you like to do the honors, sire?"
"Of course." He took it. The Grand Duke helped the maid keep her balance as the Prince slipped the shoe on. It was a perfect fit, naturally.
"Oh this is wonderful! I'll go tell the King!" The Grand Duke turned but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder.
"I'll tell him, he has to meet my bride after all." The boy blushed. "Here I am going on about marriage and what not, but I don't even know your name!"
She smiled radiantly. "It's Cinderella, Your Majesty."
"Cinderella…oh, please, no formalities. You can just call me Henry."
"Alright, Henry."
"Right then," he took her into his arms properly. She had never felt so at home before. When he finally released her, he noticed the parcel on the floor.
"What is the basket for?" He asked curiously.
"I came here under the guise of shopping for my…household."
Right, she was a maid. "Do you have a list?"
"Why, yes…" She took it from her pocket as he whistled for a servant.
A young boy practically ran over. "Sire?" He looked eager to please.
The Prince smiled. "Oliver, take this basket and fill it with the items on this list. If the kitchen doesn't have it, have someone go into town. Okay?"
"Yes sir!"
"Good boy." The boy ran back off. "He's one of the pages in training. Nice kid."
Cinderella twiddled her fingers. "I'm sorry for crying on you a moment ago, I guess I was just so worried…"
Henry smiled tenderly. "It's alright. But it seems like you have quite the story to tell me…us, I should say." He held out his arm. "Come with me?"
"Anywhere." She was simply swept off her feet and led to the King's office.
The short King sat fuming over some documents at his desk. "I thought I told you I didn't want to see your face unless it was telling me you found the girl!" He said without looking up.
The Prince chuckled and shook his head. "Father…"
The King looked up abruptly. "Henry!…You have a young lady on your arm…you know this right?"
"Yes Father, this is Cinderella, the girl I danced with."
The King jumped up on the desk, ecstatic. "And did you propose?!"
"Yes."
"Did she say yes?!"
Cinderella nodded.
"Wonderful! Beautiful! Oh my boy, you've made an old king very happy! Now, when can I expect grandchildren?"
The Prince sputtered. "We've only just reunited! Father!"
"Your Majesty…" Cinderella timidly spoke up.
"Hmm?"
"It does not matter if I…um…" She gestured to her garments.
"Oh…oh dear. You're a servant."
"Yes sir…sort of…"
The Prince raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean 'sort of'?"
"Well, I was born to Augustus Tramaine, a nobleman. My mother died before I knew her, and my father thought I needed a new mother. So he married again, a woman from a good family and had two daughters that were my age…When my father suddenly passed away, my step mother showed she was truly only cruel and heartless and made me a servant in my own home." She abruptly gasped and covered her mouth. "I've said too much, please excuse me."
The Prince frowned. "They pay you though, right? And you're not the only one working…right?"
She shook her head. "No…my pay is room and board. The family can't afford any other workers." In a move of boldness, she reached out and took Henry's hand. "That's why I cried earlier. It's been rather hard, so I guess I just-…"
"…Reached a point where the stress was too much. It was probably a large part of relief, as well," he finished
"Yes, exactly…" She smiled.
The King gestured for the couple to take a seat as he sat himself. "I don't mean to be rude, my dear, but I can only assume from what you told me…"
"Yes?"
"The night of the ball, you were wearing some VERY nice clothes. And if you are not getting paid for your services…did you steal from your step sisters?"
"Oh no! No sire! I would never do such a thing! Besides, they don't own anything near that elegant."
"There was not a dress like it at the party." The Prince joined in on his father's musings. "I've also have never seen glass slippers. And that carriage you drove off in…"
"So, were did you get it?"
Cinderella bit her lip. What to say? "I can explain it, but I am afraid you won't believe me…it is pretty incredible."
"Go ahead, Cinderella, we'll listen." The Prince urged her.
So she told them. Starting from deciding to alter her mothers dress, up until she changed back that night. She dared not say that her step sisters ruined her dress, for she was too kind to make them look bad to the King and his son.
The Royals sat silently as she told the whole unbelievable story. Mice making a new dress, a fairy godmother transforming a pumpkin, a horse, dog, and mice into the perfect entourage, the spell breaking at the stroke of midnight, and the slippers not changing back because they were separated. Cinderella knew they would think her as either a liar, or insane.
But it was the Prince's question that shocked her. "Why did the fairy godmother appear to you?"
For this question, she didn't have an immediate answer. "Well…I suppose it was because I had faith."
"In what?"
"My dreams. My wishes. I believed that someday, they would come true."
"And what are your dreams, my dear?" The King asked, a tender smile on his old face.
"To be free of the bondage of slavery. To fall in love, and be surrounded with those who really, truly care about me. That's my dream."
The Prince reached out and took her small hands in his firm grasp. "And I would love to make that happen."
"Great!" The King jumped to his feet. "We'll get the invitations out! The wedding will be tonight! Well, that's a bit too quick, tomorrow then!"
The Prince's eyes widened as a smile came over his face. "Wait father, I have an idea."
The King deflated. "If you tell me you aren't going to marry her…"
"No, no, I will, I promise you that Father. But, I have an idea…only if Cinderella agrees."
She tilted her head and probed him to continue.
"Can you handle staying back at with your step family for a week?"
"If I must," She nodded, "knowing I will be leaving it soon enough will get me through."
"Excellent. So, I think we should get revenge on they for all the years of pain they've given you."
"Revenge? I'm afraid I don't like the sound of that…"
"Not revenge then, just avenge your father and mother, teach them a lesson while we're at it."
She was apprehensive, but not totally disgusted by the idea. "What do you have in mind?"
He held up his hands. "Imagine me, dressed a servant. I go with you back to the house, and you introduce me as…a butler in training, or something. Then tell them I want to get practice before hiring myself out. Then after the week is finished, I'll reveal myself."
"They'll be mortified!"
"And we can scare them into thinking they'll be going to prison."
"They won't though, will they? Sure they have done mean and hateful things, but not anything to deserve jail."
"Maybe a few days, just to rough them up, then we send them home, simply servant-less."
"My boy," The King spoke up. "That is cruel and unusual. More importantly, were are you going to get servants clothes?"
"Ever heard of the Prince and the Pauper? I'll just temporary trade with one of the servants, here at the castle. Bennet maybe, I'm sure he wouldn't mind a vacation." Henry looked to his love. "Of course, this is all up to you. If you don't want to go back, you don't have to."
She looked to the ground as she mulled it over. "It would give us some time to get better aquatinted, without formalities."
"Exactly!"
"But are you sure you want to do this? It isn't easy, by any means."
"I'm doing this for me too! That may seem selfish, but I want to understand where you come from. I know it will be hard getting adjusted to the way things go around here, but if I can see your perspective, maybe it won't be so hard."
"Then you must promise me something, Henry."
"Yes?"
"Don't back out. You have to make it the entire week."
"If you've done it this long, I can do it a week."
"And while you two are gone," The King spoke up, "I'll plan the wedding, for when you return."
Henry rolled his eyes. "Not a moment to loose, huh?"
Cinderella suddenly panicked. "What time is it?"
Henry took out his pocket watch. "Fifteen minutes until four. Is something wrong?"
"Dinner is at five, and if we don't get home soon…"
"Got it. Don't worry about a thing, I'll get a carriage…"
"You can't take a carriage there, you have to pretend to be a servant, remember?"
"Right…Well, we better get going." He hurried to the door and called for a servant. "Bennet!"
A man, about the age of the Prince, with similar build, came forward. "You called for me, sire?"
"Give me your clothes."
The man looked astonished. "But sire…what will I wear?"
"Mine of course. We'll change in the washroom. I'll tell you everything in there." With that, he whisked the servant down the hall.
"My little boy, one day, you're giving him horsy rides, the next you're patronizing him to get married!" The King sniffed.
"Are you really alright with this Your Majesty?"
"Please, call me dad. And what's one week anyways? He adores you, that's all that matters."
"Thank you...dad." She smiled and kissed his forehead. "This will be a nice change, I haven't had a father figure in my life since I was very young."
"I'll do my best, my dear."
"In a way, I guess I should thank you for getting us together."
"Yes ma'am! Ask Ramses and he'll tell you! I said, 'All there's needs to be is a boy and a girl, under the right circumstances and they'll fall in love!' And we arranged the circumstances!"
"And what a wonderful ball it was." She sighed wistfully.
"Really? I thought the beginning was frightfully dull. Although, there was part I found rather amusing. It was before Henry saw you, he was still being introduced to different girls from the kingdom." He laughed a bit before continuing, "There were two girls, twins possibly, but they walked up and bowed. Oh but they pushed and shoved each other and fell all over the place. My son just looked at me as if to say, 'you have got to be kidding me.'" He laughed again.
Cinderella joined in on his laughter. "Poor Henry!" But then her thoughts drifted. "Was one wearing a purple dress, and the other green?"
"You know, I do believe so."
"And one was a red head, the other brunette?"
"Yes, how did you know?"
"They are my step sisters!"
The King's mouth opened in shock. "No! My dear, you had to wait on those toads?!"
"I do believe that is a bit harsh to call them."
"Then how would you describe them?"
She pondered a moment. "Misguided, angry people."
The King shook his head. "Your heart is so pure. How did my son make such a lucky catch?"
Cinderella only blushed.
"Father! Cinderella! Look! You don't even recognize me!" Henry practically sprinted to the two. He was now dressed in a worn white shirt, with a stain here or there, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. A gray vest fit over it, which was in good condition. He wore black pants that came up up to waist. He didn't look like royalty anymore, but neither did he look dirt poor. It would have to work.
Bennet came up looking uncomfortably stiff. "Sir, I will go home immediately and change. And get those other clothes you requested."
"Don't bother changing, man. Wear it as you like. This is a trade, remember?"
"Yes sir."
"But have someone dressed casually deliver a small parcel with the other articles to the Tramaine household. Remember, we're on a secret mission!"
"Yes sir!"
"Your Majesty?" Oliver approached the group with a ripe basket. "Your basket?"
"Thank you, boy. But did you really recognize me that easily?"
"It's the hair, sir. You've had the same style as long as I've trained here."
"Let's fix that then." Cinderella stood on her tiptoes and gently slicked it straight back. "There."
"Perfect!"
The Prince turned to his father, habitually smoothing his hair. "Now Father, there's something I need from you."
"Yes my boy?"
"Say absolutely nothing, to anyone about anything. And do not, for any circumstance come to the Tramaine house unless you are throughly disguised. Do you understand?"
"My own son, ordering me around like a stable boy…yes, I catch your drift. Have fun." He nodded.
Reviews make me happy.
