A/N: This is a little idea that popped into my head after watching Hilary Duff's A Cinderella Story. There are a few similarities but many more differences. So, give it a chance and let me know what you thought of my latest fanfic.

This story is AU, but many of the show's characters will be mentioned; and for the sake of this fanfic, everyone lives in the city of Gotham.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Young Justice series that was inspired by the DC comics universe or any of the show's characters, nor do I own the classic fairytale of Cinderella. However, I did write this story and all plot twists, changes and creations that I made on my own I can take claim over. So please, no stealing.


"Once Upon a Time…"

If I were the narrator of my life, it definitely wouldn't start with some cliché like once upon a time…

Perhaps something…dark and gloomy like a twisted fairy tale invented to confuse and scare children. My life hasn't been a walk in the park, more like a walk through a field of rabid dogs…or even wolves…

The point is, my life has been hard for many years now. Don't get me wrong, it hasn't always been that way.

Once upon a time…oh boy, here I go using some silly cliché.


Once upon a time, there was a family of four that lived in the town of Canton. The family didn't have much money, but they managed to make the most of their life together and pulled through even the toughest of times.

There was a man by the name of Lawrence Crock. He was heavily built and rarely smiled. His face could mistake you for a gargoyle's with the evil expression that was practically engraved in its features. The only thing or person that could un-etch his tough expression was Paula Crock.

Paula was extremely beautiful and she never took things for granted. That was one lesson she practically instilled in the minds of her two children. Paula was an amazing cook and her voice was sweet and angelic, two qualities that made Paula a wonderful singer and great friend.

Paula and Lawrence had two daughters three years apart in age. Their eldest Jade was the spitting image of her beautiful mother with the face and attitude of her father. This proved rather difficult for young Artemis, a girl with her mother's beauty and hair as gold as sunshine.

For a while, things were normal in the Crock house: family dinners, occasional outings, movie nights…but then, that night came.

Artemis was pulled out of bed at an early hour by her sister and tugged into a closet. They could hear a struggle outside their bedroom and the screams of her mother. The two sisters jumped in surprise as the sound of the dining room China Cabinet shattering reached their ears. Young Artemis began to whimper, but Jade held a hand over the younger girl's mouth to silence her cries. When the noise came to a halt, all that could be heard were the sounds of heavy footsteps approaching the closet door. The knob turned and the door opened revealing Lawrence, his face more stiff than usual. The two girls were pulled from the closet and ushered past the living and dining area out to the front road where a car was parked. Jade and Artemis were strapped into the back and Lawrence climbed into the front before speeding away from the small farmhouse.

Young Artemis questioned where her dear mother had gone, but Lawrence remained silent as they drove on.

After that night, the family Artemis had once loved changed forever…

Lawrence moved his daughters to the slums of a city far away from Canton known as Gotham. With the change of the surroundings, Artemis soon found herself within a living nightmare.

Constant beatings, cruel names, starvation…the abuse and cruelty would continue for many years and while Jade opted to leave her sister alone to face the master of their home, young Artemis forever remained loyal and stayed behind to hold on to what little memories of her happy life she had left…


So, you thought I was kidding huh? My life definitely hasn't been a fairytale. With Jade gone, I am left to deal with my father's abuse alone. I hide my life along with my battle scars and I find it hard to trust anyone…but recently…I've met someone in an online chat room who seems to be struggling with life just as much as I am…can I trust him? Can I trust myself?

This is the tale of two online friends who somehow became…lovers in some twisted sort of way. I'm no Cinderella, that's for sure, but somehow…the Disney princess and I have more in common than just our blonde hair.

This is the tale of the Speedster and the Archer…and a hero-themed ball that brought them to their happily ever after…


A/N: So, this was merely the prologue that gives the story its first push. However, I am sure you will enjoy where this story goes. So, if you feel compelled to do so, leave me a review. See you at the next update