Every one of you has heard the story of Cinderella, I'm sure: a beautiful young woman treated poorly by her evil stepmother and stepsisters is swept off her feet by a handsome prince at a ball she was never supposed to go to in the first place and falls in love and they get married like a week after they met. Think about how unrealistic that sounds, and you tell me that Disney didn't romanticize things for the younger generation.

First of all, to quote a movie that's a favorite of my younger halfbrother's, "you can't marry someone you just met," but apparently that doesn't apply to the Disney of the 50s. There's not even a chance to get to know someone, let alone realize you'd want to spend your life with them. I'd bet that Cinderella and Prince Charming divorced just a few months after the wedding.

And second, fairy godmothers don't exist. Magic is completely fake and unrealistic and if you want something done, you have to do it yourself. You can't rely on magic fairies to fly around willy nilly and do your own work for you so you can go slack off at a ball. Really Cinderella, you can tell you were an only child, that's for sure.

And even if all that happened, why would a prince travel around the country with a shoe trying to find one specific girl? And if he went to all the houses in the land, surely there was someone else who had the same shoe size as Cinderella. How small are her feet anyways, a size 4 in children's? It seems like so much work and such a flawed way of doing things.

So in my opinion, Cinderella is a completely fake story that has no grounds in reality, and if Cinderella tried to tell anyone about her fairy godmother and the mice that turned into horses and a pumpkin carriage, then she'd be locked up in a loony bin and could kiss her handsome prince goodbye faster than a starving cheetah chasing an injured gazelle.

But I digress. After all, this isn't her story. It's mine.

…

A long time ago in a land far away, there lived a completely average boy in a not-so-average household. He was a lord's eldest son (by law, not blood), and as a result, he had a lot on his shoulders, including taking care of his halfsiblings and raising them, all while cooking, cleaning, studying, all that good stuff. It didn't help that his mother was dead either.

Keith had been 10 when his mother passed away and he was devastated. His mother had been everything to him; she was the glue that held the family together. On her deathbed, Keith promised to protect his younger halfsiblings when she had begged him to do so, even though he had been so excited to get to leave the house the second he turned 18. The grieving family soon began a downward spiral as the stepfather of the household become cold and distant to his children, choosing to pass all his responsibilities as a stepfather to his oldest stepson and instead focus on his work and wealth.

Keith quickly realized that his stepfather was not someone he could go against, and that if he tried, he was met with stern opposition and cruel intentions. The last time he defied him, his stepfather had almost taken it out on the youngest child of the family instead. Keith had immediately backed down after that. It was clear to him that his stepfather was suffering from some kind of abusive habits, but seeing as he was only 12 at the time, he also knew he could do nothing to stop him. So, with plans to move out and raise his siblings himself as soon as he reached adulthood and found a job, Keith began to take over the duties of a mother as well as the traditional behaviors of the eldest son in a lord's household.

It was on one of those extra duties that he met him.

The only thing Keith knew about him for sure was that he wanted to be called Blue. Even after they had been meeting for months, he still didn't know if that was his real name or not. He was an enigma, a mystery, and as Keith met him more and more, he found himself being drawn to him inexplicably.

He had left the house one day on a trip to the market. They were out of eggs and milk and the chickens had failed to lay any overnight, so Keith had his halfsiblings watching the house while he made a quick trip there. As he strolled through the little village down the road from his manor, he was enjoying the hustle and bustle of the early morning- only for it to be rudely interrupted by yelling coming from a stall near the end of the market.

"I said you need to pay for that!" A big, burly man was shouting, his thick hand clenched tightly around the tanned arm of a lanky boy trying desperately to free himself.

"And I said I don't have any money, so let go!" he yelled back. "Just take an IOU or something!"

"That's not business works, kid," the man growled. "You either pay up or you work it off doing something else."

Keith wasn't sure why he had chosen to help the strange boy, maybe because he found his situation amusing or maybe because he didn't like how the larger man was talking, but either way, he had stepped in, calmly paid for the stolen apples, and grabbed the boy, leading him away from the scene of the crime.

"Thanks!" the boy had said when they were far enough away. "You saved me!" Keith turned to look at him and was surprised by how attractive he was. His tanned skin gleamed in the orange sunlight of the morning, reflecting in two shining blue orbs of light. A wide toothy grin spread across his face to reveal perfect, pearly white teeth and his dark brown hair seemed to frame his face perfectly. It took a moment for Keith to reply.

"I realize that. Why were you even in that situation in the first place?"

"Well I was hungry and the apples were right there and I thought I could just take one. He shouldn't have them all sitting out like that if you can't take them."

"You can take them, but you need to pay him first. Is this your first time in a market?" Keith asked curiously.

"Yeah, kind of," the boy had answered. "I live in the palace so-"

"The palace?!" Keith echoed in shock. "That's amazing! I'd love to go there just once, if only to see the knights practice their swordplay. I'd love to participate in that, even if it's just once. What do you do there?"

"I'm… uh… I'm something like a civil servant?" the boy said it more like a question and Keith cocked his head in confusion.

"What does that mean? Like a butler, or a servant?"

"Yeah. Something like that," the boy replied. He smiled again and stuck out his hand. "I'm… Blue. Call me Blue." Keith hesitated for a moment before taking the outstretched hand and shaking it.

"Well I'm Keith," he replied. "It's nice to meet you, Blue."

After that, Keith found himself going into town more and more. He told himself that it was because he had more errands to run, but he knew deep down that he was just getting lucky enough to have a reason behind his almost-daily visits to the village. His stepfather seemed to not take notice of his absence, something Keith was incredibly thankful for, but his halfsiblings were a different matter.

"You're looking awfully happy today," Pidge said, leaning in the doorway of the kitchen and smirking as Keith froze. His efforts to quietly leave had, apparently, failed.

"I look the same as normal," he answered. Pidge rolled her eyes and turned away, waving behind her as she left the room.

"Whatever you say," she told him. "I'll get Hunk up."

"Thanks," Keith said quietly before darting through the door and starting down the dirt path leading to the village at the edge of the forest. He was so caught up in his own thoughts that he failed to register the footsteps of someone else behind him.

"Where are you going to so early?" A voice from behind him asked as Keith jumped in surprise. He spun around to see a pretty teenage girl standing behind him, a curious look on her face.

"Allura," he breathed. "Don't scare me like that!"

She giggled at him. "It wasn't like I was being quiet or anything; you were just thinking harder than usual. What about?"

"N-Nothing," Keith answered, desperately trying to brush the question off. "Just trying to remember what I need to buy today."

"But you just went to the market yesterday," Allura mused, clearly up to something due to her sly grin. "I think you're going to town to meet someone."

Keith opened his mouth to answer but shut it quickly, turning his head away as he felt his face flush red from embarrassment. Allura's eyes widened as she saw this and a wide grin spread across her face.

"Oh my God, you're in love!" She crowed in delight. Keith snapped his head around to glare at her.

"I am not!" He denied in irritation. "He's just a friend!"

"And it's with another man?! Oh no," she said. "I don't think your dad will take that too well."

"He won't have to take anything because it's not true," Keith said, quickening his pace. "Don't you have embroidery lessons to take or something?"

"Keith, you wound me. Obviously they're fencing lessons."

"Yeah, yeah, just go do that and don't butt into my love life," he broke off as he realized what he said and heard laughter behind him.

"So you admit it!"

"I admit nothing!"

And Keith was being honest at the time. It wasn't for another 3 weeks, until he learned that Blue was leaving to go back to the palace, that he realized he really did like the other boy.

Keith left the house later than normal that day. Hunk had woken up earlier than normal and Keith hadn't been able to find a good time to leave until Pidge finally returned from the market, arms full of bags of what seemed like junk. Keith was sure she was planning on tinkering again all afternoon and was fully prepared for her to shut herself up in her room like she preferred to do on those days. However, one look at her halfbrother and she told him to just go already, promising to watch Hunk for him. Keith had raced out of the house, running as fast as his legs could carry him, knowing that the time Blue told him that the carriage was leaving was already long past. He had almost forgotten to wear the twin necklaces his mother had given him: a heart-shaped lock and key that she made him promise to give one to the person he falls in love with. This was important because Keith was still trying to decide whether or not he wanted to give Blue the heart-shaped lock.

When he finally made it to town, expecting to have already missed his chance to say goodbye, he was surprised to see that waiting there at the edge of the village was the carriage with Blue standing outside it, head spinning around frantically as if he was looking for something. When his eyes met Keith's, they lit up and he raced over to him.

"You finally made it!" He cried happily as he flung his arms around Keith. "And just in time too, I couldn't keep them waiting for much longer."

"Why didn't you leave yet?" Keith couldn't stop himself from asking. "It's way past when we said we'd meet up." Blue cocked his head for a minute and thought to himself. After a minute, he shrugged helplessly.

"I just knew you were coming, that's all."

"And how exactly could you know that?"

"I just did," Blue answered. A man's voice drifted over to them and Blue looked over his shoulder, waving in the direction it came. "Looks like I have to go…"

"Looks like it…" Keith let his voice trail off. He couldn't find anything to say, and it seemed like Blue couldn't either (which was really weird for him) and the two stood there in awkward silence for what felt like years.

"Um, Keith, I…" Blue's voice sliced through the air like a knife through butter. A strange expression crossed his face, like he wanted to say something, but as soon as it came, it vanished, replaced with a wide smile. Blue stepped forward, arms outstretched before freezing in his tracks. "Almost forgot you don't like hugs," he said, laughing and extending a hand instead. Keith stared at it for a minute before grabbing it and yanking forward, pulling Blue into him and wrapping his arms around the teen. He could feel Blue's surprise at first before the boy returned it. Keith was surprised at how nice this felt and wished he had more time. Unfortunately, it was time for Blue to go and all too soon the embrace ended, leaving Keith feeling oddly cold.

"Don't forget me at the palace, okay?" Keith said, forcing himself to smile.

"I'll never forget you as long I live," Blue answered immediately. "Not for a million years."

"People don't live that long, idiot."

"You never know, maybe I'll be the first," Blue replied, smiling. When he spoke again, his voice were quieter and more serious. "I'm really glad I met you, Keith. One day I'll come back, so wait for me, alright?"

"If you want me to, then I will," Keith answered, unsure what the tanned teen meant but accepting nonetheless.

"Good," Blue said. "So… I'll see you later then."

"Yeah." Keith couldn't bring himself to say anymore. He gripped the necklace tightly in his hand, suppressing his feelings down inside him as he watched Blue turn around and walk away. He watched as the boy helped throw the remaining suitcases onto the back of the carriage before walking around and stepping inside it. And he watched as the coachman snapped the reins and the horses began to trot away, pulling the carriage, Blue, and the memories of that summer behind it.

…

As Keith walked up the last few steps to the front door, a chill went down his spine as angry voices drifted over to his ears. He threw open the door and rushed in, hurrying to where the noise was coming room. When he entered the living room, the first thing he saw was his stepfather, fists raised and face red, screaming at his two halfsiblings, who were hunched on the floor, Hunk looking like he was about to cry and Pidge glaring up at her father defiantly. Keith frowned. As much as he wished he was anywhere but here right now, he had a duty to do.

"Father, stop screaming like that! You're scaring them!" Keith said, trying to keep his voice from quivering as he walked over to his siblings, stepping in front of them as if he was a human shield to divert the man's rage away from the two of them. His stepfather looked at him, glowering with a stare full of rage and disdain.

"Where have you been." It wasn't a question, and Keith swallowed, realizing that no matter what he said, it was going to be the wrong answer.

"I was-"

"Stop right there," his stepfather interrupted him. "I don't care where you were. You weren't here and that is the issue. These brats," he pointed at Keith's halfsiblings sharply, who both looked away guiltily. "Got into my study and destroyed some very important documents."

"I'm sure it was an accident, so-"

"An accident that wouldn't have happened had you been here, doing your job. God, why can't you ever do anything right?!" He snapped angrily. Keith swallowed thickly before responding.

"I'm sorry dad, I just-"

"FATHER," the man hissed at him. Keith quickly nodded his head, trying to soothe the situation in any way he could as he suppressed the sickening feeling in his gut. God, he hated this man with every fiber of his being but unfortunately there was no way of escaping him until Keith was of age.

"Father," he corrected himself. "I had something important to do in town and Pidge promised to stay and watch things here, so I assumed everything would be okay. I wasn't thinking-"

"That's your problem, Keith, you never think," his stepfather cut him off before he could continue. "You just do whatever you please while I slave away trying to feed you stupid brats! You have one job in this household, and that's to watch over your siblings, and yet you can't even do that! What would your mother think if she saw how useless you've become! It's clear to me that I've given you far too much freedom. From now on, you're to stay home. No more leaving the house."

"But-" Keith's broke off as he stumbled back, his right cheek stinging in pain.

"I SAID NO!" His stepfather barked, still holding his hand high, ready to swing again.

"...alright," Keith hissed through gritted teeth, desperately restraining himself from retaliating.

"Good. Now go get lunch ready. I'm hungry and you know how I hate to be kept waiting." With that, his stepfather turned around and stalked out of the room, leaving Keith staring at his retreating back, a mix of emotions on his face. For a second, he felt like he was going to practically rip apart from anger, but then the sound of feet met his ears as his halfsiblings hurried over to him and he steeled himself before turning to look at them.

"Keith!" A worried voice cried as his younger halfbrother rested a hand on his shoulder. He turned to see Hunk standing over him, sympathy plain on his face. Keith hated that look. "Are you alright? You didn't have to cover for us like that."

"It's fine, Hunk," Keith answered, suddenly feeling really tired. "It's not like things would've been any different if I hadn't. You know how that bastard hates me."

"Sorry, Keith," Pidge said as Keith turned to face her. "Guess I got too absorbed in my tinkering."

"Well next time don't say that you'll watch the house if you never intended to do so in the first place!" Keith snapped. His eyes widened when he realized what he had said and he sighed heavily. "Forget it. I'm just tired."

"Well no shit," Pidge replied, her light tone implying that she hadn't taken his angry snapping seriously. "You never sleep enough, Keith."

"It can't be helped," Keith said. "There's a lot to do and as stepfather said, he's our support. As much as it sucks, we're dependents."

"Well if that's the case, then dad sure doesn't act like it. It's more like he's dependent on you," Pidge muttered. "And then he treats you like trash. And you just put up with it! You need to grow a spine and tell him off Keith, things can't continue like this!"

"It's fine, Pidge," Keith said firmly. "I don't do all this for him, I do it for mom. It's what she wanted me to do. And besides, I'm the oldest out of the three of us. I may not acknowledge that dick as my father, but you guys are still my siblings, and I want you to be happy. If that means putting up with stepfather's abuse, then I can deal with that. Besides, it's not going to be forever. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get started on lunch."

With that, he stood and walked to the kitchen, leaving his halfsiblings staring worriedly behind him.

…

"A ball?" Keith echoed in shock, in perfect unison with Pidge. A few weeks had passed since Keith had been forbidden from leaving the house when a letter had arrived in the mail addressed to their stepfather. He had opened it that day at lunch and announced the contents, as if he already knew what it was going to say.

"For the Prince?" Pidge said in confusion. "What does that have to do with me?"

"As the eldest daughter of this household, this is the perfect chance for you to marry into royalty and elevate our whole family, Pidge," their stepfather said sternly. "You are going to that ball and you will make that Prince yours."

"But isn't he kinda… weird?" Pidge replied.

"Weird or not, he's a Prince. Who cares if he likes both genders, you still have a chance," their father said, obviously not liking the prince's inclinations. However, his greed for money won out.

For the Prince… Keith thought. How interesting. If I'm correct, he's the same age as me. I'm surprised he's taking a bride when he's so young; I'd never want to marry at 17.

"I don't want to go!" Pidge cried suddenly, interrupting Keith from his thoughts. "I don't want to marry some stupid guy, all I need are my inventions! And besides, if I was going to marry someone I'd do it because I love them, not because they're a Prince!"

"You'll have all the time to tinker with your stupid little toys in the palace," their stepfather said angrily. "You're going, and that's final!"

"No!" Pidge yelled again. The middle aged man frowned, lunging for his daughter with his palm outstretched. At the last second, Keith darted in front of his halfsister, taking the blow for her as his head swung to the side. Luckily he was able to keep his balance as he glared angrily at his stepfather. Hitting him was one thing, but his own child? What kind of man was he and how the hell did his mother fall for him?

"Keith!" Pidge cried, glancing at him worriedly before turning her fierce gaze on her dad. "What kind of parent are you?! How can a stepfather hit their own child?!"

"He's no son of mine," her father replied, his voice icy. "Now you'll go, or suffer the consequences."

"She said she doesn't want to go," Keith said quietly looking at the man defiantly. "You can't force her to."

"It's fine!" Pidge said quickly before the situation could get any worse. "I'll go, okay?

"Pidge-"

"No, really, it's fine, Keith," she said, forcing herself to smile. "It's just a stupid ball, I'm sure I can handle it. And besides, maybe I'll find some things I can pilfer and work with." Keith considered arguing more, but seeing as his halfsister was as stubborn as a mule, he knew he wouldn't get anywhere.

"You will wear your mother's old ballgown," their stepfather declared. "It may not be in the best shape, but I'm sure that your halfbrother will be able to fix it right up, isn't that right Keith." It wasn't a question, so Keith just nodded his head yes in agreement, even though he wasn't very good at sewing. He resolved to take it to Allura in secret. "The ball is in two weeks so in order to prepare, you will take a break from your tinkering so your hands return to being soft and feminine and instead focus on your embroidery, curtsying, and manners. I can't have an idiotic daughter ruining my reputation in the royal court. Your brother will teach you, he's certainly subservient enough for it."

"Fine," Pidge growled out, barely managing to keep her rage under wraps. Keith, however, just sat there motionless. It wasn't like he could really say anything that would change his stepfather's opinion of him at this point. It didn't really matter what the man thought of him anyway, it wasn't like Keith needed his approval. But it still stung to be called subservient- not that he would ever give his stepfather the satisfaction of knowing he got under his skin.

At one point, Keith had worked up enough courage to ask his stepfather if he could go to the ball as well. He had never been to one before and was just the tiniest bit curious. Of course, one look from his stepfather told him the answer before any words were said. Keith had always known his stepfather viewed him as a disappointment, but this really solidified it: if he went as well, he would surely embarrass the family.

In the past, that would've irked Keith quite a bit, but he barely had the attention to care about an answer he already knew was coming. For the past few weeks, his mind had been somewhere else entirely, still with Blue and the village. Still trying to savor the memories of freedom that remained before they disappeared for good.