Opposite Cinderella?

The traditional story is where Cinderella's step-mother and sister are pure evil, and Cinderella is their slave. She wants to go to the ball but they won't let her, then she cries her guts out till her fairy godmother comes and saves the day, blah, blah, blah, blah. Prince falls in love with her yada, yada, they live happily ever after and all that junk. Well, my story is almost the exact opposite. Almost.

Once upon a time there was a little girl named Ella. Ella lived with her parents in a fancy house in the Kingdom of Dopnal's capitol city, Glekkin. Her mom got tired of being a mom, so she left to find the great mysteries of the world. She was never heard of again.

Ella's dad soon married a very sweet and beautiful lady, named Lilly who already had a child named Serafina with a disposition that matched her own. Ella and Serafina got along splendidly regardless that they had totally different interests, and soon became inseparable. They played together, ate together, did whatever 7 year olds did together, even insisted on sharing the same room. And despite Lilly replacing her mother Ella loved her more than the sun loved the moon. And despite Ella being another woman's child Lilly loved Ella as her own.

10 years later… Ella's POV

"Ella!" Sera squealed excitedly, "Guess what!"

I viewed her step-sister with interest "What is it?"

"We're invited to the prince's ball!! He's going to pick a wife! We can dress up prettily, and maybe even dance with the prince himself!" Sera said.

"Uh, I'd rather not go…" I said. I was kind of a tom boy, and didn't like big crowds of fancy people.

"What?! But you have to! I can't go alone. Please, you'll have such a good time…" Sera pleaded and pleaded and my resolve finally broke.

"Fine! I'll go!" I said feigning exasperation, "Maybe."

Sera cheered. "My powers of persuasion have won again!"

I chuckled. "More like your power of annoyingness," I joked.

Sera gasped in fake anger and glomped me. "Take it back! Take it back!" she shrieked.

"Okay, okay! I take it back!" I yelled laughing.

"Sera, Ella that is no way for ladies to act." A voice called out. Both of us froze when we saw Lilly in the hallway. "But, it is all right for us to act. Group hug!" Lilly announced, and then enforced it.

When I finally broke free it was time for afternoon tea. Sera eagerly told her mom about the ball being held at the royal palace while sipping chamomile tea. She not-so-eagerly told her I didn't want to go.

Lilly looked shocked. "Ella I know you don't care for balls, but this is the prince's ball. You have to attend."

"But—!" I protested.

"Ella," Lilly said firmly, "you are going to the ball. That's final."

I sighed. Great. Now I have to go to the ball.