'I can't help but feel guilty, Cinderella must be devastated.' Aqua thought as she watched through the window of the carriage, the view of green leafy and tall trees surrounding a small, humble and welcoming kingdom that could barely be seen in that dark night.

Aqua rested her chin on her hand and sighed sadly, half-closing her eyes, too deep in thought. 'After this is dealt with I have to go back and bring Cinderella to the prince, then I can continue on my journey.' She glanced to the road in front of her, spotting the big castle she had been in not so long ago. 'I don't want to get further involved in this.'

After being dragged outside the Tremaine residence, Aqua was led to a medieval-looking carriage that was pulled by four white horses. The Duke was actually sitting next to her, but Aqua paid no much attention to him after she was told it'd take a while before they arrived.

Now that she thought about it, what was the purpose of the slipper? Yes, she knew it was to find the maiden the Prince had danced with, but why was the ball arranged in the first place? Curiosity took the best of her, and Aqua couldn't help to ask. "Excuse me," She said getting back his attention. "I know the prince wants to find the maiden he danced with. But is there any particular reason for that?"

The Duke gave a faint nod. "Why yes, you see, the King had been longing to have grandchildren not just for the joy of it, but to have an heir to the throne. The Prince had of course not found any woman of his interest, so the King arranged the ball inviting every maiden of the kingdom. It seems the plan was a success, but as you might know, the girl he had chosen to marry ran away at midnight, leaving only her glass slipper behind." He explained with a calmed tone, as if he had no doubt that even if Aqua was the maiden or not, the Prince would be soon happily married.

"I see." Was her only reply and turned to look back at the window, placing both hands on her lap. "Then I hope the Prince finds her soon."

About an hour later, the carriage stopped just in front of the huge gate that guarded the castle; two guards were standing on each side of it, with firm posture and the greatest concentration Aqua had seen since Ven had first tried to summon his keyblade.

"Here we are Madame," The Duke said as he climbed down the carriage and walked towards the gate. "Would you please follow me?" He asked turning back at her, as the gate was opened.

Aqua turned her gaze away from the enormous castle that looked magical with the stars behind it, and turned back at the Duke. "Of course." She answered with a nod, and followed him inside.


Ven found himself outside a big mansion, the first thing he noticed was that much for his relief, he was at his normal size. Second thing, it seemed that not a day had passed by for it was still dark, and third…

"I should have known…" A female familiar voice sniffed, and choked back a sob. "T-That something like this would happen…" She kept crying, as if she was talking to someone else, although a reply wasn't heard at all.

…someone was crying.

For a reason, Ven felt his heart beat faster, feeling it was his duty to make that sad heart regain its happiness; he placed his right hand over his chest and closed his eyes. "Could it be…?" He looked up at the opened window where the crying voice was coming from and reopened his eyes.

"Cinderella?"


Cinderella laid on her bed face down, covering her eyes with her arms in shame of showing her tears. Next to her was the orange-dressed mouse, wearing a frown on his face as he patted with his small hand Cinderella's arm, trying to sooth her.

"Now the Prince will get married and I'll never see him again." Cinderella cried, hiccupping and sobbing every so often. Finally, she gave one last sniff and sat up, wiping away the remaining tears on her cheeks and eyes. "Well," she said, gaining Jaq's attention. "maybe it's for the best." She looked down at her fellow mouse friend. "It may be better this way, don't you think so Jaq?" She asked with a watery smile.

Jaq gave a sigh and his ears went down, feeling unsure. "I don't know… I think it was more like a mistake." Cinderella's eyebrows rose in surprise. "B-But, maybe somethin' will turn up, and help ya out." He stuttered, not really trusting in his own words, but just wanted to return her hope of dreams coming true.

Cinderella sighed, not entirely sure. "You think?"

"Ugh, just a bit more…" A voice grunted from outside the window.

Startled Cinderella stood up. She saw as Jaq jumped down the bed and ran towards the window; he climbed up to the edge and peeked down, gasping in surprise.

"Ven-Ven!"

At hearing the boy's name Cinderella went to the window, and looked down to see named boy climbing up the wall by clutching onto some branches that had randomly grown against it, being of perfect support; only that now he wasn't at the size of a mouse.

At hearing his name, Ven looked up and smiled at seeing Jaq and Cinderella, the trace of tears still in her cheeks. "Jaq! Cinderella!" He cried happily, and climbed up faster. When he reached the edge of the window he climbed up and jumped inside the room.

"Oy Ven-Ven! You seem to grow up real fast!" The mouse said innocently, earning a chuckle from Ven.

Ven turned at Cinderella, and as he expected saw the wet trail of tears on her cheeks; she was the one crying. "Something happened while I was gone?" He asked looking at both Jaq and Cinderella.

Cinderella let out a small sigh escape her lips and just walked back to her bed. Confused, Ven turned at Jaq waiting for answers. The mouse frowned and rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, when you left Cinderella went to the ball, only that the dress we did for her was ruined by her sisters; so Fairy Godmother gave her another one, but had until midnight before the magic wore off. Cinderella got to dance with the Prince, but at midnight she left and one of her slippers came off. The Duke was going to try the slipper on all the girls of the kingdom so she could marry the Prince, but Cinderella was locked up by her stepmother."

Ven widened his eyes and gasped. "She did it so Cinderella couldn't try the slipper…" Ven muttered in realization. "That's awful!"

Jaq nodded in agreement. "I got the key and this nice girl named Aqua helped me free Cinderella."

"Aqua?!"

Jaq lifted his eyebrows. "So you really know her?" He asked, remembering clearly that Aqua said she was a friend of Ven.

Ven nodded his head. "Yeah, she's my friend." He explained, and then smiled. "Can't believe Aqua was actually here." He said, the mere of thought of Aqua causing joy to fill him.

"Well, she went to make sure the Duke wouldn't leave , but when I freed Cinderella he was gone…" He looked down at the floor and sighed. "And so was Aqua."

Before Ven could say something, Cinderella interrupted from where she was sitting on the bed looking down at her hands. "Drizella said he left with a blue-haired girl." She whispered, not wanting to believe her beloved was getting married.

It took Ven a second to understand, and when he did…

"Aqua is getting married?!"