Firstly, thanks! This pairing is one of my ABSOLUTE FAVORITES in the Disney Universe, and one of the most obscure. That you guys are reading fic for it - small and inadequate though it may be - is a HUGE thing. Sincerely, thank you. (Also, any fellow shippers/fanwork out there?)
2. I Do
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"I. I. D-do. I do – Yes."
She bites her lip, clamping down on the guilt and giddiness threatening to overwhelm her. The priest drones on. Cinderella's halfway out of the kingdom by now, caged and shackled, headed for the harbor and far away, Mother only knows where – except nowhere good, that much can be sure. Somewhere terrible, while I stay here and take your place, your face, your fate. Oh, I'm sorry. But I'll find you, see, I will, when I'm queen I'll make it all up to you, we'll hide it from Mother, somehow, it will work out. Will it?
"Kiss the bride," the Prince whispers, leans down – her husband, now, oh god. That was wrong, she shouldn't be doing this, really, but what else can she do?
She can see Cinderella reflected in his eyes, now, pretty blond hair swept away from her delicate face, framed with white wedding lace. Princess, happily ever after, all she's ever wanted. His smile is perfect, frightening in its complacency.
But, she had asked me, do you love him?
Anastasia gasps, and ducks.
His lips graze empty air. The chapel is suddenly silent, heavy with shock and bated breath.
Do you love him?
"Cinderella?"
Do you?
She turns tail and flees.
"Cinderella!"
"I'm sorry!" she chokes as she stumbles past the aisles, out the door, down the steps, eyes blurry, uproar hard on her heels. She half-expects Mother to pull out the Magic Wand and stop her cold, maybe turn her to stone like Cinderella's Fairy Godmother, to dispose of her like Mother has done all other obstacles, coldly, cruelly; any minute now - but her feet keep on churning -
Anastasia knows that this is the wrong way to go about it, she should tell them everything, beg forgiveness - sorry, I just wanted to be happy for once, I didn't mean to hurt you all - should pursue Cinderella on a horse at least, or a carriage, but she hadn't done anything she should've from the start, now had she? But she will. Any second she'll turn back, or they'll catch her, and things will be put to right. But right now she wants to run, run, to feel leg legs pound the stone pavement, let the whistling in her ears drown her thoughts.
She runs past the gates onto the dirt road, trips on a stone. She crashes to the ground, but gets up again, running with a broken heel and a torn dress and torn heart.
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Well, second part somehow uploaded here, still not too happy with it, might edit in the future. Sorry for those who haven't seen Cinderella Three (A Twist In Time) - I probably spoiled or confused you, or both. xD