A/N: First storyinspired by Ever After-A Cinderella Story. My mum was watching it, so I thought, why the heck not. Title for this one shot collection inspired by CrAzY-SiLLy-Me.

Naruto does not belong to me...


SS Combo: Happily Ever After

A Cinderella story


"No."

"No? I signed a marriage treaty with the kingdom of Waterfall and you will obey this command or there will be hell to pay!" Uchiha Fugaku, King of Konoha kingdom said to his youngest son, Uchiha Sasuke. His onyx eyes glared disapprovingly at Sasuke, who was knelt down on one knee, facing his father.

"I don't want to marry a princess." He repeated firmly, clenching his fist until his knuckles turned white. "Ask Nii-san. He's to be crown the next king, is he not?"

Fugaku frowned. "Your brother is going over to Sunagakure, where his fiancée is. The King there has no son, so Itachi is going to help rule. You, are going to be crown the next king here, Sasuke."

"Rubbish. You're just getting rid of him." Sasuke thought bitterly. Itachi was the only he ever talked to since he was born apart from his mother, Uchiha Mikoto who sat beside the king, saying nothing but gazing sadly towards her son. After his birth, his father was much too busy with his kingdom to even talk to his youngest son. After nineteen years however, his father suddenly turned his eyes to him, discarding the elder like yesterday's news. It sicken him to think that the king who was known for his kindheartedness was really rotten inside.

"My lord, Sasuke does not love her…" Mikoto tried reasoning with her husband.

"It's not about love!" Fugaku exclaimed.

"Perhaps it should be!" Mikoto countered, obviously not happy.

"If he is to become king, he will learn to accept his responsibility!" the king said, talking as though Sasuke wasn't there.

"He cannot grow in the shadow of Waterfall! He needs some light!"

"FINE! You will find yourself a bride in seven days, Sasuke, or I will announce your engagement myself at the ball eight days from now." Fugaku said with finality in his voice, leaving no space for argument. Sasuke gritted his teeth and stood, glaring slightly at his father before turning to leave.


"Sakura!"

A pink pastel haired girl turned towards the voice from her work, waving a bit before setting the basket in her hands down on the stand.

"Naruto, how nice of you to drop by." She smiled. With long pink hair that reached her waist, her emerald green eyes sparkled as she regarded her best friend.

"How are you? They giving you anymore trouble?" Naruto asked, running a hand through his spiky blond hair and nodding his head towards a pretty black haired girl, quite a distance from them.

Sakura laughed lightly and shook her head. "No, at least for now."

Naruto chuckled. "Yeah, thought so. That little girl wouldn't do anything without her mother eh?"

An elder woman stood beside the black haired girl, smiling at people who were talking to them. Beside her stood a blond haired girl, who didn't look as happy as the other two.

"My sister wouldn't be please to hear you say that, Naruto." Sakura giggled, pushing her hair behind her ears.

"Step sister you mean Sakura. They ain't related to you by blood. Don't know why you're letting your stepmother take over your mansion anyway. You're the rightful heiress you know." Naruto said seriously, emphasizing on the 'stepmother'.

Sakura sighed. "Naruto…we've been through this…"

"But Sakura, I'm stating the facts…" he said, frowning. "Your father was a Baron okay? You're a daughter of a Baron! You have noble blood in you! And look at what you're doing? A maids work!" he exclaimed, pointing to her dirtied clothes.

"It's nothing really, and I'm just helping out in chores." She muttered, dusting her clothes.

"Hah!" Naruto shouted. "You very well know that it isn't what you're doing Sakura."

Sakura hung her head. True, she was doing a maids job, but she pretty much enjoyed it. The servants were kind to her and treated her like family, unlike her stepmother and sister. Ami was like her stepmother, arrogant, stubborn and downright spoilt. She would whine until she got everything she wanted. Ino however, was a different story. She may have acted dumb, but she supported Sakura behind her mother's back.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Naruto." Sakura said, ending the conversation as she saw her stepfamily approaching. She made it looked like she was working by taking up the basket. Luckily, before her stepmother was able to say anything, Ino stepped in.

"Sakura, can I have that apple?" she asked, shifting everyone's attention away from Sakura.

Sakura smiled gratefully and handed her one, receiving a 'thank you' from her step sister. She really was a life saver.

Her stepmother scoffed at Ino's antics, and turned to walk away with her elder daughter, Ami. Ino winked at her stepsister before following, after pressing the apple back into her hands.


Sasuke muttered curses under his breath as he walked the path to the village, silently plotting on how to get out of this 'arranged' marriage. His brother had disappeared again, no doubt off to one of his paradise to start painting. He vaguely wondered what was so fascinating about painting, but shook that thought off when he spotted the person on his mind.

"Nii-san?"

Itachi turned his head to see his brother walking towards him, and set his brush down before turning to face the young prince. "Sasuke." He looked further behind the prince to see two escorts.

"I see father still won't let you out without escorts." He said, cocking an eyebrow.

Sasuke nodded. "Aa. I don't bother anymore. Let him do what he wants."

"So you agreed to the marriage?" Itachi asked, barely masking his surprise.

Sasuke growled. "As if I'd marry someone I don't even know. I'd rather marry someone I can tolerate in my presence, nii-san."

Itachi chuckled before patting his head. "Yes, I suppose that would be like you otoutou. So I suppose you're off to find someone like that now?"

The young prince grunted. "Hoping. I can't exactly marry just anyone now, can I?"

The elder Uchiha suddenly looked more weary and older when he next gazed at his younger brother. "No, I think not. But I can hope at least you find someone you can learn to love, Sasuke."

Sasuke looked resented. "I suppose it's a miracle, if I can find a girl who doesn't shout into my ears, whine when she wants something or brags about how she's queen when I marry her."

Itachi fake surprise. "Sasuke!" he exclaimed. "My fiancée is nothing like that you know, and you haven't even met her yet."

Sasuke grunted, pushing his elder brother's hand away from his head. "I have to go. Don't want to waste 'precious' time. Father only gave me seven days after all."

"Alright. Though you must remember, girls tend to be pretty good actresses nowadays…"

Sasuke smirked. "I'm a better actor then. No one knows me for my looks, as no one ever saw me outside before."

Itachi laughed, before giving Sasuke a shove to get on with it and turned back to his painting, smirking at his brother's behavior.


The marketplace was very busy at this time, which was noon. Merchants could be seen everywhere with customers, talking and haggling prices. Sakura was packing up as they had finished their products for sale today, it really was great to finish fast. As she picked up her basket, she turned towards Naruto, who had been sitting beside her.

"Well, I have to get home now, do more chores." She said brightly, dusting her skirt.

Naruto nodded. "I have to get back to painting. There's a really beautiful place over the hills, I never got down to starting either."

"I'm sure it'll turn out wonderful." Sakura replied, encouraging her friend to start.

"Yeah! And when I'm done, you'll be the first to see it." He flashed her a smile, before hugging her and bounding off, no doubt to start on the picture.

Sakura smiled before setting off to the mansion, which was at least a ten minute walk from where the marketplace stood. The other servants had already went back, afraid of the mistresses wrath if they did not make it back in time. She picked up her pace, wanting to get home as soon as possible.

"Home…huh…"

She didn't feel like the mansion was her home anymore, considering the fact that her stepmother now pranced around like she owned it. The Baroness knew the fact that the mansion belong to Sakura, but she continued acting like it was hers. It irritated Sakura sometimes, but she put up with it, knowing one day her situation would be better.

"What I would give to get her out of here…" Sakura muttered as she dumped the basket down, changing into a fresh outfit before heading down to the stables. It was time to groom the horses. When she reached the stables, one of the younger servants who was recently employed, Kuroi was already there.

"Sakura." She greeted.

Said girl nodded in return. "You've groom them all?" she asked, surprised.

Kuroi blushed. "Yes…I was here since morning and I thought…since I had nothing to do…" she trailed off.

Sakura laughed. "Thanks Kuroi, you saved me some work."

The two girl giggled as they pampered the four horses there, until they heard some distance shouting. Sakura looked up from the horse whose reins she held.

"What was that?"

Kuroi narrowed her eyes. "Perhaps…it's those bandits who have been hiding in the forest lately…we are pretty close to the forest…"


Sasuke ran into the trees as soon as the guards look the other way. He silently laughed at their behavior, wondering how they ever became royal guards if they couldn't even keep up with a kid.

"Just proves how dumb they are…" he thought as he came to a stop, right in the middle of the forest.

"The forest? Mother said something about bandits here…" he mumbled as he walked. Suddenly, something heavy dropped down on his back, forcing him to the ground. He grunted as he hit the ground, his chest aching painfully as the rough ground dug into his skin.

"Well well, if it isn't the young prince."

Sasuke looked up to see several men emerging from behind the trees, holding either knives or swords in their hands. He tried to turn his head to see what was on his back, but was met with a fist instead.

"Hey men! This little boy is all alone without his escorts!"

Sasuke held his face in his right hand, wondering if the punch had broken his nose. "Pfft…Itachi hits harder than that."

The man on top of him suddenly stood, kicking Sasuke in the ribs before breaking out into laughter again. Sasuke groaned but tried to get up, clutching his sides now instead. "Fuck…what the hell?"

The bandit in front of him smirked. He had long grey hair which was up in a low ponytail, and glasses that made him look intelligent. Sasuke brought his hand to the hilt of his sword, mentally counting the men who were behind the grey haired one.

"Twenty…I can handle them."

Before he could think it thoroughly, they started charging towards him. Sasuke blocked every blow that came, sometimes kicking their stomachs when he saw an opening. He countered nicely, rendering some immobile when the blade in their hands flew up and dropped a few feet away from them. As they turned to retrieve it, Sasuke would knock them out either by punching them in the guts, or kicking them hard enough to roll down the hill behind them.

Finally, after what felt like eternity to Sasuke, he leaned against a tree, thinking it to be over. "Stubborn bas-"

He ducked just in time as a blade embedded itself where his head was. He groaned when he saw the grey haired man, who he assumed was the leader getting up with a few other men. "He who runs first doesn't always run last." Sasuke said, turning around swiftly, he bolted.

"Get him!" the leader shouted, and all the others gave shouts before chasing their prey.

Sasuke ran through the forest, ignoring the scratches he was getting from them. He had to get out of here and get back to the castle, fast. As he turned to see his pursuers, his foot caught a stone and it sent him tumbling down the slope, giving him a headache when he hit even ground at the bottom. Although it hurt like hell, he stood up, cursing his luck before looking around, seeing a stable in the distance.

"Shit." He cursed, when he saw his pursuers coming down for him. He dragged himself up and ran towards the stables, where he saw two young girls.


"Sakura! Someone is coming towards the stables!" Kuroi exclaimed, catching the other girl's sleeve.

Sakura looked up when the man was already in front of her, panting heavily. "E-excuse me my lady, I would like to borrow your horse."

Without waiting for a reply, he grabbed the reins from Sakura's hands and mounted the beast, but Sakura's hands moved on their own account and grabbed a nearby apple, flinging it towards the man's head. He caught it easily, but he understood that he was like a thief. He would have laughed if there were no pursuers gaining on him. He hastily threw a bag of gold into her hands before galloping off, hoping she understood that he wanted her silence.

"Wha…" was all Sakura got out before she realized, her horse had been stolen.

Kuroi smiled softly behind the stunned girl, clearly recognizing the young prince for who he was, although she did know he wasn't suppose to be without escorts…


THUMP

Sakura touched her cheek, where it was stinging from the slap that her stepmother gave her, after discovering that the stranger that took their horse yesterday was indeed Uchiha Sasuke, who was going to be the next crown king.

"I-I didn't recognize him…" she bit out, clearly wanting to point out that only a few people knows what the younger prince look like. She glanced up from where she was forced down after the slap.

"So you didn't think to tell us that he stole one of our horses?" her stepmother said, glaring daggers at her.

"I meant to…" she muttered. "But he took my horse. I didn't think it would matter much…" she thought silently.

The Baroness scoff. "Luckily, dear Ami was there when he came. I must say my darling has a way of taking His Highness's heart."

Ami smiled slyly at the girl on the floor, clearly mocking her silently. "We had a little chat, dear sister."

Ino stood silently to the side, having being the younger of the two daughter, she was least favorite by her mother. But at least she didn't have to do the chores like Sakura.

Earlier that day, Sasuke had came to return the horse he borrowed yesterday. He had hoped to see the two girls at the stables like yesterday, as the pink haired girl had caught his interest. Even though he had just one glance, he was astonish about the unique hair color she had, plus, a girl who dared to throw an apple at his royal head. Unfortunately, there was a black haired girl by the stables, not the one he saw the previous day, but a different one.

"My lady." He started, wanting to get this over with as he saw no purpose in lingering any longer.

The girl nodded and waited for him to introduce himself, which he was reluctant to. Finally, he gave an inaudible sigh and continued. "I am Uchiha Sasuke, Prince of Konoha and I would like to thank you for lending me your horse, it was much appreciated."

For a moment, Ami couldn't speak. She was simply stunned that the prince stood in front of her, returning the horse she never realize stood in the stables. She quickly regained her composure and took the reins from him and smiled.

"You are utmost welcome my lord. I am Ami de Ghent, May I inquire, why you needed it?" batting her eyelashes at him.

Sasuke was already beginning to feel uncomfortable as the girl in front of him tried to flirt, and failing.

"It was nothing, my lady. If you'll excuse me…" he tried, hoping to run away soon.

Thankfully, Ami smiled and courtesy "Of course my lord, please, you are welcome back here anytime."

Sasuke bowed and hurried off out of the gates, disappointed as he couldn't see the girl he hoped to see.

Ami of course, told her mother of this little meeting, thus resulting in where they were right now, in the kitchen. Ino glanced to see her sister smirking while her mother still fumed about the little incident. If the stranger that took the horse was not the prince, she doubted that her mother would even care.

"At any rate, if this happens again, I want to know immediately, whether he comes by again. And you had better keep the house extra clean. I dare say he'll be paying us a visit again, as Ami had taken his heart, isn't that right dear?" her stepmother said, turning to Ami.

Ami smiled at her mother, nodding. "I'm sure he will mother."

Behind her, Ino silently rolled her eyes, gazing sadly at her stepsister on the floor.


Indeed, the prince did return soon, but not for Ami. He rode swiftly and silently on his horse, straining his neck to see if the girl was anywhere near.

"I wonder if she's one of the daughters…" he mentally beat himself, he should have questioned the girl yesterday. He sighed and started to turn, when he saw a girl running towards the gate. She was the girl he had hoped to get a glimpse of, the one with the pink hair.

"Stop!"

He looked towards a carriage which she had called to halt, and saw a man getting down from it. He had pale white skin and long black hair, and horrible purple make up on his face. Sasuke flinched when he saw the man, hiding behind the trees to see the scene before him.

"Release her immediately Monsieur, I will pay you the money." Sakura said, producing the bag of gold that the prince had given her yesterday. Sasuke watched as the man shook his head, talking quietly to the girl.

"Really now Sakura, you just have to…marry me." The man, now seen as a Baron said as he played with her pink hair. "I know I am twice your age, but I can offer you so much…"

Sakura grimaced when he placed his hand on his shoulder. "Monsieur, release her this instant." She said through gritted teeth. The baron in front of her however, did not seem to have that intention to do so anytime soon, so Sasuke decided it was his time to step in.

"Good sir, I believe it would do you good to release whoever she's talking about. She is giving you a fair price."

Sakura turned to see a young man on a horse behind them, clearly surprised. "Y-your Highness!" she exclaimed, bending her head low. The baron beside her was stunned to realize that the prince now stood in front of him. He too, bent down.

"Your Highness." He muttered, but Sasuke ignored him.

"Release the person this lady had asked you to."

The Baron nodded and swiftly opened the door to the carriage behind his, revealing the other girl he saw that day at the stables. She stumbled out of the small place, clutching her head as she got used to the sunlight.

"Sakura…?"

The pink haired girl thrust the bag of gold into the baron's hand before heading towards Kuroi, embracing the young girl. Tears were streaming down her face as the girl gripped Sakura's clothes like a lifeline. Sakura was comforting her, stroking her hair. Sasuke was awed by her kind nature and turned to the baron. "I trust it is enough?"

The baron just nodded, no doubt he was not happy about this, but he climbed back into the carriage and set off, not wanting to anger the prince. After making sure he was gone, Sasuke turned towards the two girls.

"My lady." He said, noting that Sakura wore clothes that suggested she was from an upper class. "May I have the pleasure in knowing your name?"

Sakura blushed, at a loss for words. Sasuke was expecting the flirting, or maybe do what the fangirls do. If she was like that, Sasuke would not take a second thought and excuse himself. But surprisingly, she smiled softly. Not the smile that he sees normally on faces that wanted to try to take his heart, but a sincere one.

"Haruno de Lancrét."


A/N: Instead of making more new stories, I'll just put everything here as a one shot collection, but I won't touch the ones I have already put up. As I said, inspired by Ever After, so that's where I got the title for the collection series, that and of course CrAzY-SiLLy-Me's collection. Hope she doesn't mind. unn... It isn't very good this story, I twisted a lot if you watch the original movie. Some names are from there also. This is just part I. Stay tuned and please review! xD