Two months later. The day of the ball

Candy had been up since five o'clock in the morning, running to every room of the house it seemed. She had to press a dress here, Hem a sleeve there. Fix breakfast. Draw baths, the list just kept going on. By three o'clock, she was very worn out, and yet they still called.

"Candy! Bring my shoes!"

"Bring my barrette!"

"Bring my dress!"

"Girl, we leave in an hour!" Lady Gruphay called. With that announcement, the girls went into a mad panic.

"Fix my hair!"

"Polish my shoes!"

"Fix my makeup!" Candy ran like mad trying to keep up. She ran downstairs, covered in powder, to get some rags. She heard Lady Gruphay laughing. She turned to look at the woman and frowned.

"Don't look at me like that, girl." Lady Gruphay chortled. "You are a maid after all." Candy rolled her eyes then ran back upstairs. About an hour later, the girls came prancing down the stairs. Candy stood on the stairs and watched.

"Girl, you look beautiful." Lady Gruphay complemented. The girls curtsied prettily.

"Thank you, Mother." They said in unison.

"Do you think the prince will notice?" Asked Pearl.

"He'd have to be blind not to." Lady Gruphay paused, looked at the girls, then they all started laughing hysterically, as if they shared some private joke. Very confused, Candy went to retrieve their shawls.

"What was so funny?" Candy asked as she handed out the shawls.

"You don't know!?" Hannah gushed.

"What?" Candy looked at each of the women standing there. They burst into laughter again.

"The prince's mother is a blind, old horse." Kayla explained. "This kingdom really deserves a real queen."

"That's why one of my daughters must marry the prince." Lady Gruphay said. She then looked at the clock. "It's time to go girls." With that, they all swished out the door, slamming it behind them. Candy walked to a window and watched them load into a carriage and leave. A tear slipped down her cheek unnoticed.

"The poor prince." She whispered. She then went to the kitchen to make herself some dinner.


An hour later. At the castle.

Jay watched as people started swarming into the ballroom. Upon his request, the queen would not announce him at this ball. He wanted to be able to tell Candy, before she figured out the hard way. He was sure she didn't know he was the prince.

"Jay." His mother whispered.

"Yes, Ma'am?"

"Go enjoy yourself."

"Candy isn't here yet."

"I know."

"You do?"

"If she was here you wouldn't be standing around." She replied with a chuckle.

"You're right. As always." Jay answered back. He watched as a maid led his mother to her throne. He headed over to the buffet table, got himself some food, found a chair in a dark corner and began to eat. He watched as ladies of all walks of life began to enter. Then, much to his dismay, walked in Lady Gruphay and her three daughters. They acted as if they were the most beautiful women at the ball. Lady Gruphay sat with a group of ladies that she knew while her daughters flirted with every guy they saw. Jay just watched.


In the meantime at Lady Gruphay's.

Candy was in the library reading her favorite book when she heard a carriage roll into the yard. She quickly threw the book onto the shelf, and then ran to the door.

"Why are they back so early?" Candy wondered. She opened the door when she heard the footsteps on the porch. Standing there was the Queen's messenger, Ben, holding a bag and a box.

"Are you home alone, Miss?" He asked.

"Yes. My mistress and her daughters are already at the ball."

"Good." He turned around and motioned somebody in the carriage to come. "This is Penny, the queen's personal maid." Candy stared at the girl. She was about her age, about the same built, but her hair was blonde instead of brown.

"Nice to meet you, Ma'am" Candy curtsied slightly. Penny stared laughing.

"Just call me Penny. And your name?"

"I'm Candy." Ben and Penny shot a look of shock at each other. Surely, this isn't the girl Jay's been looking for.

"Is there something I can help you with?" Candy asked. Ben walked into the house with Penny behind him. He went to the parlor, sat down his load, and plopped down into Lady Gruphay's favorite chair.

"I would like some tea before you girls get started."

"Started?" Candy asked.

"Tea, please." Ben said again. Candy hurried to the kitchen to retrieve a cup of tea for Ben. She quickly brought it to him. "You're quick."

"I was trained to react quickly."

"Penny, she's ready!" Ben called. Penny rushed downstairs.

"Come, Candy."

"Where?"

"It's time for a bath." Penny pulled Candy upstairs. Thirty minutes later, Candy looked into a mirror. She didn't look like herself without all the dirt on her. Penny came back into the room with the box and bag that Ben had been carrying.

"What's that?" She asked pointing to the stuff.

"Your dress and accessories." Penny replied

"My what?"

"The queen ordered that you be at the ball." Penny explained.

"But…"

"Would you want to disobey the queen?"

"No, but…"

"Then be quiet and let me work." Penny and Candy shared a quick laugh as the "work" began.

Ben was walking around the parlor "How long does it take" He mumbled to himself.

"Ben, are you ready?" Penny called

"She better be worth it." He mumbled then replied "Yes. Bring her in." As they entered the room, Ben stared, eyes wide, mouth wide open.

"Ben?" Candy asked "Are you ok?" Penny winked at Candy. She then went and popped Ben on the back of his head.

"Wow!" no other words could come out of his mouth.

"I think we're ready to go, Ben." Penny said sternly.

"Right." Ben cleared his throat and offered his arm to Candy and they walked out the door. They loaded into the Royal Carriage, Penny and Candy in the back, Ben in the front. They were half way there before Candy remembered something.

"What about my stepmother?"

"Who?" Penny asked.

"My Mistress."

"She's your stepmother too?"

"Yes."

"I'll distract her so you can have a good time."

"And her daughters?"

"We'll have them covered."

"You have everything planned, don't you?"

"You can thank Queen Shanda for it later."

"The Queen planned all this?"

"Yes."

"Wow."

"Candy, if you don't mind, what happened to your father?" Penny watched as tears formed in the other girl's eyes.

"Nobody knows." She whispered. "He disappeared when I was nine."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

"So, instead of sending you to the orphanage, Lady Gruphay decided to keep you on as a slave."

"Yes." Candy looked out the carriage window.

"That good for nothing witch" Penny thought to herself

"There's the castle!" Candy exclaimed excitedly "I wonder if Jay will be there."

"I'm sure he will be." Penny said as she patted Candy's hand. They pulled up in front of the palace.

"Wait thirty minutes before bringing her in. ok?" Penny told Ben.

"Ok. Why?"

"I have something I have to do real quick" Penny said as she ran off.

"I'll never understand that girl."

"Do men ever understand the female kind?" Candy asked. Ben looked at her and chuckled.

"No." After what seemed like an eternity, Ben offered Candy his arm and they headed inside.


Inside the ballroom

Jay watched as women tried to find the prince. He laughed at each mistake. He then saw a movement by the door. He looked and saw Ben enter with what looked like an angel in his arm. Ben looked at him and smiled, then headed for the garden. As his curiosity got the better of him, he decided to follow them and see what was going on. As he entered the garden, he heard a soft song being played somewhere. He followed the sound to the middle of the garden. Then, there she was, the girl that Ben had been with. She was wearing a long silvery gown with a full skirt and long sleeves. Jay just stared at her. She couldn't be real, could she?

"Good evening, Jay" She said in a sweet voice.

"Candy?" He was shocked. How did his mother know she would be here? "You look beautiful."

"Thank you." She did a small curtsy.

"Would you like to have a seat?"

"Thank you." He led her to a garden bench and seated her then sat beside her.

"I wasn't expecting you to come."

"You can thank the Queen that I'm here."

"What?" he had to know what his mother had to do with this.

"She sent Ben and a girl named Penny t where I was."

"Really!"

"Yes. They brought this dress and many other things."

"That's amazing."

"I hope I can thank her someday."

"I'm sure you will be able to." Jay looked at the stars and stood. "May I have this dance?" He asked with a bow

"Yes." She placed her hand in his as he led her to a small open gazebo. They began to dance. They danced many songs before either one spoke.

"You're a good dancer."

"My father taught me how."

"That's good." He looked into her eyes and smiled. "Are you a quick learner?"

"Yes"

"Do you like to learn?"

"Yes" They stopped dancing. Jay held both of her hands

"I have to tell you something very important." Jay began. Candy looked at him, head cocked to one side.

"What?"

"Will you promise not to be mad at me?"

"Why would I be mad at you?"

"Because I didn't tell you from the beginning that I'm…" before he could finish Lady Gruphay and her daughters stormed out of the palace. Ben and Penny rushed out, grabbed Candy and pulled her away.

"Wait!" Jay called. He stared, then ran after them, but by the time he reached them they were in a carriage storming down the road.

"What was with that?" He asked himself. Then headed inside


At Lady Gruphay's

"Candy!" Lady Gruphay called "Candy! Where is that stupid girl" Candy came running from the basement.

"Yes, Ma'am" She said out of breath.

"We would like a cup of tea served in my room."

"Yes, Ma'am" She watched as Lady Gruphay and her daughters headed upstairs. She went to the kitchen.

"That was close." Penny said.

"Too close." Candy replied

"We must be going." Ben said as he headed for the door.

"Thank you for everything." Candy said as she hugged each of them.

"It was nothing." Penny replied. "See you later" Ben gathered up the dress and other accessories.

"Have a good night" Candy called silently as they left. She watched them disappear into the woods where they had hid the carriage.

"Good night, Jay." She whispered as she blew a kiss to the sky. She went back into the kitchen and started the tea.