Eighteen Years Later

Cinderella's POV

My sisters—Anastasia and Drizella—were going to a sleepover. Anastasia suggested that I ask Mother if I could go.

I found Mother, sending a servant to the village. I backed away and Mother called, "I know you're back there, Ella."

I sheepishly walked over to her. "What is it?" she asked.

"Can I go?" I asked.

"Go where?" she asked.

"The slumber party," I added.

"No," she answered.

"But, Mother, Anastasia and Drizella are going," I whined.

"Stop whining, Cinderella," she ordered.

I pouted but obeyed. "I'm only protecting you," she murmured as she fingered her locket—it held a picture of Daddy and Anastasia and Drizella's father.

I nodded and asked, "Can I not not go to the party?"

"Yes, I mean no," she replied.

I scowled and she held out something for me—it was my teddy bear, completely repaired—it had gotten torn a few months ago and she promised to have it fixed. I grinned and she wrapped her arms around me—even though she was overprotective, I think I was her favorite of the three of us—or that might have been because I was the baby—she still treated me like a baby sometimes. "Thank you, Mommy," I murmured.

"You're welcome, my dear girl," she began to carry me up to my room.

Later Drizella and I got into another fight. "So, seeing as you don't want to go..." she began.

"I do want to go," I countered. "I just don't want to upset Mother."

"Yeah, because you're Mommy's little angel," Drizella accused.

"Am not," I insisted.

"Are too," Drizella persisted.

"Am not," I insisted.

"Are too," Drizella persisted.

"Am not," I insisted.

"Are too," Drizella persisted.

Anastasia entered and said, "Drizella be quiet!"

Mother arrived and said, "Anastasia, Cinderella, come with me."

Drizella and I stuck our tongues out at each other and Mother said, "Drizella, Cinderella, behave."

We nodded.

"Since I don't want you sneaking out, you can go, Ella, as long as you stay with Anastasia," Mother said.

I nodded and said, "Yes, Mother."

She quickly hugged me and I asked, "Mother?"

"Yes?" she pulled back and stared at me.

"Why are you so protective of me?" I asked.

"That, my dear, is a story for another day," she kissed my forehead, gently.

"Run along and get ready," she ordered.

I nodded, but glared at Drizella as she entered Mother's study.

"Baby," she muttered under her breath.

"Drizella, do you know why you're here?" I heard Mother immediately asked my oldest sister as I closed the door behind me.