Cinderella

Or in this case…

Cinderworth

Once upon a time, in a chateau in France, a young boy lived with his mother and father.

Erik, the child, was happy with his mother and father. Together they would read and sing and enjoy every moment they could together. His parents raised him to find beauty in all life, whether it was a dainty butterfly or a slimy worm.

Erik was a genius and his parents knew it. They watched as the boy read every book in their home before he was four. By the time he was five, he was inventing machines with spare scraps of metal he found.

Tragedy struck the family when Erik was six. His mother died of a horrid flu that was being spread through the city.

His father married again when his son was fourteen feeling that his son needed a mother. The woman, lady Chagny had two sons, Philippe and Raoul and five daughters, Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty and Lydia. Phillipe was a year older than Erik and Raoul was barely a year old and the girls ages were scattered in between.

At first, Erik was happy to finally have some siblings to keep him company, but the joy soon faded. His new step siblings soon took over his world. He soon wanted to just be alone. It broke his heart as he watch the library that he loved so much be turned into a bedroom for Raoul.

Just when he was starting to adjust to his new life, tragedy bared its fangs again. Erik's father tragically died in a carriage accident.

As Erik mourned the loss of his father, the true, cruel nature of the stepmother was revealed. Lady de Chagny was a cruel woman who forced Erik to sleep in the basement and forced him to work as a servant, or more accurately a slave, in his own household.

Despite the cruelty, Erik tried to be as kind as he could to others. He loathed his step family and often fantasized about killing them, but he kept hope in his heart. There must have been a reasoning behind his suffering.

And he would soon meet the reason for his suffering.

The creature that would make his world perfect would soon enter the world.

Erik was doing manual labor in the gardens, around the time when he was eighteen, when a carriage pulled up at the front of the chateau.

"You there!" A man called to him, frantically, "Please, go fetch your master and bring him here. Tell him that it's urgent!"

"My mistress and her family are out, monsieur." Erik said, hurrying towards the carriage, "I am the only one in the house at the present moment. But I promise that I will help you in any way I can."

"My wife," The man said, looking behind him, "She's in labor and the nearest town is still miles away. Please, can she deliver our child here?"

"Of course." Erik said, knowing that his mistress would torture him later for his actions. "Please, let me help."

Erik rushed up to the carriage. There were only the two of them besides the man who was driving the covered carriage. He saw a beautiful woman who was beautifully dressed inside, her stomach swollen with a child. She was in deep pain and it was clear that her child would soon be born. They couple appeared to be extremely wealthy.

"Please," The man pleaded, putting his arm under the woman's arm and trying to lift her onto her feet. "Help me get her inside."

Erik, who was incredibly strong, easily carried the woman in his arms without the need of the man's help. He carried her into a spare bedroom and placed her on the neatly made, but rather dusty bed.

"Is there anyone nearby that can help my wife," The man pleaded as he watched his wife scream in pain.

"Monsieur, it would take too long to find someone else." Erik said. "I offer my services. Despite my appearance, I am an intelligent man and know how to help your wife deliver your child. I understand if you do not trust me, I would not trust me either. I will happily travel to find someone if that is what you wish but I do not think it wise."

The man looked at Erik, his eyes on his ragged clothes. He noticed that he was quite a handsome young lad: jet black hair that was combed to one side, strong build and a very handsome face if it were not covered in dirt. But mostly, the king found interest in his eyes: they were stormy grey and fully of sadness but there was a glimmer of hope and kindness in them.

"I trust you." The man said. "I am Gustave, by the way. My wife is named Charlotte"

"Erik." He said, "Please, let's not waste time."

A few hours later, Erik was cradling a healthy baby girl in his arms. She was adorable: dark eyes, plump cheeks, and a few tufts of curly brown hair.

Erik felt an immediate attachment to the young girl. This was not unusual for him. Whenever a new animal was born on the chateau, Erik always was fond of it. New life: a new start. A newborn child was so pure, something that was not tainted or blemished. Unscarred.

Gustave soon took his baby daughter into his arms.

"Oh you are precious," Gustave said, cooing the babe. "Oh my little Christine."

Christine. Erik thought it was a beautiful name. Perfect in fact.

"I cannot thank you enough, monsieur Erik." Charlotte said as her husband placed their newborn daughter in her arms. "I am not sure what we would have done if you had not helped us."

"It would be wrong to turn away someone when they desperately need it." Was all Erik said.

"What in propriety is this?!" Lady Chagny shouted as she walked in on the scene. "Erik you let this scum into our...Oh my."

"Scum madame?" Gustave said, standing up straight. "I would have hoped that a noble woman like yourself would not find the king and queen of your land scum."

"King?" Erik said, aghast. "You're the royal family?"

"Well of course they are, Erik. Don't be foolish." Lady de Chagny said bowing before her ruler and Erik quickly following her example. "I must apologize, your highness. I was not talking about you. I was referring to...to...to the wild dogs that Erik accidentally let onto the grounds. Complete mongrels."

"I see," Gustave said, not buying her story for a second. "Well your servant Erik deserves a raise as well as a reward from myself and the queen."

"No no." Lady de Chagny stated. "Erik is a horrid servant: always talks back and never obeys."

"Hm, from what I have seen, Erik is a remarkable young man." Charlotte said, "He was ever so kind to carry me up here and helped me deliver the new princess."

"Did he now?" Lady de Chagny said, glaring at Erik before returning her eyes to the king and queen. "I must apologize for whatever rude comment he made to you while you were trapped here."

"The only rude one is you, madame." The king said. "Erik, stand."

Erik, who was still bowing on the floor, utterly horrified and embarrassed at his own stupidity for not being able to recognize his ruler. He hesitantly stood up, his eyes still glued to the floor.

"I must thank you." The king said, looking up at Erik who was a least a foot taller than Gustave. "You served me and my wife willingly and happily despite being ignorant to our true status. That alone is enough to reach heaven, young lad. I invite you to the Princess's christening which will be held in a few days. An invitation will be sent to this address tomorrow."

"I and my children will be invited as well I assume." Lady de Chagny stated. "It would improper for Erik to attend without his mistress and her family."

"If you must." The king said. "I will see you there, my young lad. You will be praised in front of the whole kingdom for the kindness that you have shown."

"Thank you, your highness." Erik said, still not looking him in the eyes. "I look forward to going."

A few hours later, dinner was served with the King and Queen as guests. Erik, for the first time since who knows how long, was allowed to sit at the table and eat with his masters...family. Erik sat right beside the King, who had grown fond of the young lad. It was incredibly uncomfortable for Erik fore his stepmother was glaring at him the entire meal.

After dinner, the king, queen and the princess Christine were heading away in the carriage, off towards the palace with which was in view.

Once out of sight, Erik's stepmother approached him.

"Come, to the basement."

"I did nothing wrong!" Erik pleaded, knowing what was to happen.

"You made me look like a fool in front of the king." lady de Chagny said as she grabbed Erik's arm and forcefully dragged him towards the basement. "You made your older brother look like a savage by sitting by the king. You should have let Phillippe sit by the king."

"The king sat by me." Erik said as he walked the steps down to the basement. "I did not have a choice in the matter. As for making you seem foolish, you needed no help from me."

"Oh you little monster!"

Lady de Chagny grabbed the horsewhip from off of the wall of the basement. Erik, who had experienced this several times before, knew to just remove his shirt and lean up against a wall. He received twenty-five lashes and each one stung like a thousand knifes to the skin.

After the beating, Erik fell to the floor, writhing in pain. Lady de Chagny grabbed him by the hair and pulled him to his feet.

"You are not going to that christening." She said, her face only inches from her own. "You are to stay here and clean every inch of this chateau. I will give you a lash for every speck of ash I find in the fireplaces so you had better be extra careful to clean them all efficiently."

"You can't stop me from seeing the princess." Erik said, glaring daggers into the woman.

"Watch me." Lady de Chagny.

The wicked woman then went over to the fireplace where an iron was being heated up. Gloving her hand, she grabbed the hot iron and quickly pressed it to his face, scarring him forever.

Erik screamed in agony as his flesh was burned. He fell to the floor, writhing on the ash covered stone in agony.

"Now go upstairs and clean up the mess in that spare room. Then do the laundry, sweep and mop the stairs, wash the dishes and clean the windows. Maybe that will teach you a lesson on talking back to me. And when I wake, I expect a proper breakfast made. You are to wake us all up at sunrise. We have to go into town and buy clothes for the event."

"You are a monster." Erik said before spitting on the feet of his mistress, his hand to his face, praying that the pain would cease.

"You are the monster." Lady de Chagny said, laughing. "You are worth less than the ashes that you sweep up. Now get to work, Cinderworth."

Erik never went to the party in which he was supposed to be honored at. The kingdom never learned the identity of the kind soul who had assisted in the safe birth of the princess and soon the kingdom forgot the event entirely.

However, through some miracle, Erik had seen the young princess grow up. Every few months, the King and Queen with their young daughter would come to the estate in hopes of seeing Erik. Each time they arrived, Erik was forced out of sight of the royals. He was forbidden to talk or ever be seen in the same room as the royals.

He had learned that lesson when Christine was six.

Christine had been playing in the gardens where Erik was working when the two meet face to face.

"Hello, young princess." Erik gave a bow to the young child who was on her stomach, peering under the chicken coop. "May I ask what you are doing?"

"Hello, monsieur." Christine said, looking up at him, unfazed by his scarred face. "I just was looking for a kitty that hid itself under here."

"I'll get it." Erik said, kneeling onto the filthy ground. "I would not want your dress to get dirty."

Erik easily lured the small kitten out from under the chicken coop.

"Aw, she is so cute." Christine said, petting the small, trembling creature. "Thank you monsieur. Is she yours?"

"Yes, her name is Jacqueline." Erik said. "She is one of five kitten I am keeping under my care. She keeps running away."

"May I see the rest?" Christine asked out of curiosity.

"Of course may." Erik said, unable to say no to the little girl. "Come, follow me."

Erik led her to the basement where his home was. In the corner was a crate were the kittens were playing around.

"Aw! They are so precious." Christine said stroking the fur of a black and white kitten. "Where is there mama?"

"She was killed by one of my master's dogs." Erik said, sadly, "I've been taking care of her kits since then: there were seven kits before but one was a stillborn and the other sadly died at the dog's jaw. That is why I have been keeping them in here. Jacqueline keeps escaping. I must thank you for finding her, young princess. If not for you she would have perished by those mongrels."

"That's so sad." Christine said, as she picked up a kitten and carried it in her embrace, "I've lost my mother, but I cannot even imagine what it is like to lose both of your parents."

"Speaking from experience, I can tell you that it is not pleasant." Erik said, putting Jaquline into the crate.

"You have no parents?" Christine said, looking up at him in pity. "I am so sorry."

"I have a stepmother," Erik admitted, "but our relationship is less than ideal."

"I am sorry." Christine said, understanding his words. "Does she not like you because of your face?"

"Most do not like me because of my face," Erik said, "but she hated me before I was burned so it must be something else."

"I am sorry, monsieur." Christine said, sadly. "I can see that this topic pains you. What are you going to do with the kittens?"

"Care for them till they die I suppose." Erik said.

"Are you not going to sell them?" Christine said.

"Possibly. I would rather them be in my care so I know that they are cared for, but it might be best for them to go to another home. One with less hunting dogs."

"Do you love them dearly?"

"Of course. I always love helpless creatures."

"I know I should not ask, but may I have one?"

Erik stared at her for a moment.

"You wish to adopt a kitten? These are not bred for glamorous buyers. You wish for one?"

"I would not want one to get hurt by a hunting dog. If I could take them all away from this place I would." Christine said. "I understand if you say no."

"I would not say no to you, Christine...I mean princess."

"Please, call me Christine."

"You may pick one, Christine."

Erik watched as the young princess picked out the runt of the litter for her new pet. Erik was surprised by this, he thought that she would surely pick the fluffy white cat but instead she chose the cat that looked like it got dragged through the mud.

"I want this one, if that is alright by you." Christine said, the brown muddle in her arms.

"Of course, princess." Erik said, "His name is Gerard. I know you will take good care of…"

"Cinderworth!" Lady de Chagny screamed. "Get away from the princess this instant and get back to the gardens where you belong!"

Erik scurried out of there like a mouse being chased by a cat. Later that night, Erik was given thirty lashes for speaking to the princess. In his mind, it was worth it.

And so, for years, Christine and her father came to the chateau in hopes of seeing Erik. They never stayed too long, not being able to put up with the Chagnys for more than a few minutes. However, these brief encounters gave Erik hope. He would stay out of sight, as instructed, but he would watch Christine, longing to talk to her once more. Every trip, she would bring her beloved cat, Gerard, with her. Every time Erik saw her, she was even more beautiful than before.

Christine would often be singing at these visits. Oh what a heavenly voice she possessed. Erik would press his ear up against the wall to hear her sing. It would often end with him being beaten, but it was worth it in his mind.

By the time Christine was fifteen, Erik had desperately fallen in love with her.

Sixteen years had passed since Erik had been locked in his own house on the day of the christening of the young princess.

Erik was singing as he scrubbed the floors of the main entrance on this oh so special day.

"Sing sweet nightingale high above me." He sung the song that his step sisters would often practice. "Sing sweet nightingale. Sing sweet nightingale high above me. Sing sweet nightingale. Sing sweet. Sing sweet nightingale. Sing sweet. Sing sweet nightingale. Sing sweet. Sing...sing…"

At that moment, a knock came from the door. Erik, being the only servant in the whole Chateau, fetched the door, feeling less than worthy in his ragged, torn and filthy white shirt, ash covered brown trousers, mud crusted brown boots and wispy grey hair. But worst was his burned face.

Erik opened the door to find a Harold from the palace.

"Message from the king." the Harold said as he handed Erik the letter.

"Thank you." Erik said as the man looked him up and down in disgust.

Erik shut the door, wanting to get away from the judging eyes of the king's servant.

Staring at the neatly folded letter with the king's seal, Erik wondered if it was worth interrupting his step family to bring them the letter. Fearing what would happen if he kept it from them more than what would happen if he interrupted them, he made his way upstairs to the music room where Lady de Chagny was attempting (and failing) at teaching Raoul how to play the piano.

Erik opened the door and was greeted with a friendlier greeting than usual.

"Are you foolish enough to interrupt us while I am teaching, Cinderworth?" Lady de Chagny said with obvious disgust.

"There is a letter, from the king." Erik said, holding the beautiful and regal letter.

"Give it here." Phillipe said, reaching for the letter.

"No I want to read it!" Raoul said, grabbing his brother's arms.

The two boys began to fight over the letter that Erik let go of fearing that they would take off his arm if he held onto it.

"Boys." Lady de Chagny said as she easily took the letter out of Raoul's hand.

Lady de Chagny opened the letter and began reading it allowed for all to hear.

"Dear whom it may concern." She read. "You are hereby invited to a royal ball in honor of Princess Christine Charlotte Daae's sixteenth birthday. At this ball, the Princess will choose one eligible gentleman to begin courting. In hopes of the princess' soon marriage, every man of every status and rank is permitted to attend and the princess shall dance with every eligible gentleman. The ball shall take place tomorrow evening and will continue until the princess has chosen a suitor…"

"The princess is offering her hand in marriage?" Phillipe said, aghast.

"And everyone has a chance at her?" Raoul said, smoothing his hair back.

"Everyone?" Erik muttered under his breath.

"We must act fast." Lady de Chagny said. "We must go to the tailors quickly before everyone else gets there. You two must have new suits. Let us hope there is still time."

The three left the room in a hurry. Erik hurried after them, a question burning in his heart.

"Lady de Chagny." Erik said, chasing after her. "May I ask you something?"

"Get on with it, Cinderworth." She said cruelly, "You have to come with us in order to carry our things. Hurry up and clean your face: you're absolutely filthy."

"Just a moment of your time." Erik said, gathering his courage together. "The letter states that every man must attend the ball."

"What about it?"

"May I go?"

Erik's stepbrothers, who were listening in, started to laugh.

"You? Dance with the princess?" Phillipe laughed.

"May I have this dance?" Raoul offered his hand to his brother, mockingly, "Sorry but you may have to put on a blindfold so you don't have to see my ash covered face. Sorry if I get ash on your dress."

Raoul and Phillipe than danced around in a laughing fit.

"Boys, quiet." Lady de Chagny said, thinking. "The letter does say every man is to attend."

"Mother!"

"You can't let him go!"

"He'll just embarrass us!"

Erik's stepbrothers continued to beg their mother to lock him up the night of the ball.

"Quiet!" Lady de Chagny yelled, her boys quieting down. "If Cinderworth wishes to go to the ball, he may if he completes all of his chores and completes all of the other tasks that are given to him. And of course he would have to find something suitable to wear. And find a way to hide that nasty scar on his face."

"Really? I may go?" Erik said, happier than he had ever been before.

"I see no reason why not." Lady de Chagny said, "Now go get that ash off of your face."

Erik sped off towards his basement, happy to start slaving away for his mistress.

"Why did you let him?" Raoul asked.

"Yeah why are you letting him go?"

"I said 'if', didn't I?"

"Oh...if."

The de Chagny family laughed cruelly at their sick, twisted joke.

After slaving away during the day, Erik was happy to return to his basement. Tomorrow would be a big day: he would finally be able to confess his love for the princess.

"Think about it," Erik whispered to Jacqueline, his beloved feline. "I have a chance to win her heart. Think about it. I cannot bear another day of being without my Christine."

Erik looked at his little corner. It was a little place by the fireplace. He would often whittle in his free time, making himself friends. The first little doll he made was of the fair princess. Then he made himself, just wearing a handsome red suit and without a scar across his face. He hated to admit it, but he would often place the two figures side by side. He made other dolls as well, including those of his step family.

Those particular figures had a rope around their necks and were hanging on the fireplace mantle.

Erik got himself a few laughs looking at those figures.

That night, surrounded by the cats that he had saved those many years ago, Erik made himself a suit out of old clothes of the Chagny brothers.

"A dream is a wish your heart makes when you're fast asleep," Erik sang quietly to himself as he sewed, a small smile on his lips, "In dreams you will lose your heartache. Whatever you wish for you keep. Have faith in your dreams and someday, your rainbow will come smiling through."

After his suit was finished, he made his way to the garden outside, to a rose bush. He easily pick a beautiful red rose, one that was plump and bright and plucked it off of the bush.

"No matter how your heart is grieving," Erik said, tying a black ribbon on the rose's stem, "If you keep on believing the dream that you wish will come true."

Erik went to bed with a smile on his face, dreaming of what it would feel like to hold his princess close as they cuddled in bed together.

The next day was worse than Erik thought it would be. He was put to work from dawn till dusk doing every imaginable thing that his mistress could come up with. He had barely finished the last task when his step family was about to leave for the ball.

"Wait for me." Erik begged them. "I will only be a moment. Do not leave without me."

"The carriage has not yet arrived. Hurry, Cinderworth." His stepmother sneered.

Erik rushed to the basement and hurriedly dressed in his home made suit. Looking himself in the mirror, he would say that he looked halfway decent. His suit was a dark black color so that you could not see the patch work throughout the whole of it. His wispy greying hair was neatly combed and every speck of ash had been removed from his face.

Finding his appearance suitable, he rushed to his step family.

"I am here." Erik said, slowing down.

His step family looked him over in shock: he looked rather handsome.

"You look...decent, Cinderworth." His stepmother said.

"Thank you." Erik said, waiting for something terrible to happen.

"How did you make your suit?" She continued, circling him like a vulture.

"Old fabric." He stated.

"Hm you have a thread loose here." She said, reaching for his coat sleeve, "Let me get it."

She tugged at the thread, tearing a hole in his coat sleeve.

"My suit!" Erik said, "You will pay for that!"

Erik grabbed at her throat but he was stopped when Raoul grabbed his arm.

"You have another loose thread. Let me get it." Raoul sneered as he found another thread piece and tore off his other coat sleeve.

And so it continued. Raoul and Phillipe continued to tear Erik's suit apart until there was nothing left but a few rags. Erik felt like strangling the living daylights out of them, but he was kicked to the floor.

"It seems you are no longer are fit to go to the ball." Lady de Chagny said, "Come boys, the carriage just arrived."

Raoul and Phillipe left the house, high and mighty in their stunning suits and heads held high: they had no guilt of what they did to Erik.

"Have a wonderful evening, Cinderworth." Lady de Chagny said as she closed the front door, "Oh and clean these rags up."

Erik sat on the floor for a few seconds, looking at the mess around him that was once his suit that he had worked so hard to make. He then jumped to his feet, ready to get revenge on his wicked stepmother. He was too late. All he could do was watch as his wicked stepfamily rode away in the carriage, off to go dance with the princess.

Erik ran out of the house, into the garden, getting scratched by rose thorns and all other types of plants and objects. He then threw himself on a bench and began to weep.

"I will kill them," he said bluntly, Tears streaming down his face. "They will curse the day that they were cruel to me. I will strangle each and every one of them for what they have done. Oh my Christine…"

"Come, come man, pull yourself together," A voice from behind said.

Erik turned to find an older looking Persian man behind him.

"Who the devil are you?" Erik said, wiping his eyes and trying to regain some dignity and self-respect.

"I am Nadir Khan," The Persian said, "and I am here to put an end to your miserable life."

"Thank goodness. Please just kill me now," Erik said, "I will not fight it. I am done with this life."

"I am not here to kill you." Nadir said, "If fact I am here to do the exact opposite. I am here to stop you from killing someone."

"They deserve it." Erik grumbled. "If you had known the pain I have known you would know…"

"I know exactly what those cruel people have done to you." Nadir said, "But I am here to change all of that. I am very skilled in magic."

"And I am the king of this land."

"Soon you will be." Nadir said, "But first we just need to fix…"

Nadir got a good look at Erik.

"That." Nadir said, gesturing to all of Erik. "Now, first. A carriage."

Nadir snapped his fingers and a nearby pumpkin turned into a golden carriage.

"What the devil…" Erik said, admiring and bewildered by the beautiful carriage. "How on earth?"

"Magic, Cinderworth."

"Call me that again and you will be added onto my hit list."

"Fine, Erik. Now, horses."

Nadir snapped his fingers again and Erik's beloved pet cats turned into four black stallions. He snapped his fingers again and two nearby lizards became coachmen.

"Now we fix...well all of you." Nadir said.

He snapped his fingers once more. Erik's outfits rapidly changed. His hair grew thicker and turned black as a raven's feathers. He torn coat became a beautifully red suit with gold embellishments on the collar and cuffs. His black pants that were stained with mud and torn in several places became clean white dress pants with knee high black boots. But the most important part of his appearance…

"My scar...it's gone." Erik said, looking at his reflection in the fountain, touching his now blemishless face.

"Yes it is." Nadir said. "Now hurry off with you. The spell only lasts till midnight."

"There is one more thing that I must do."

Erik bolted back inside. He rummaged around in his personal things before finding it. A ring with a glass back with a beautiful diamonds on the top.

Erik placed the ring on his gloved hand: a perfect fit.

Erik then grabbed hold of the rose he had picked the previous evening, which was starting to wilt.

"Hurry, Erik. Your time is running out." Nadir said as Erik entered the carriage. "You only have until midnight to win that princess of yours. Ah I see you have chosen to give your princess a rose. Here, I'll help with that."

Nadir snapped his fingers once again. Erik watched as the wilting flower regained life.

"Astounding." Erik said, looking at the beautiful rose.

"The rose will stay alive so long as you love your princess."

"But my love for her will never die."

"Then neither shall the rose. Now, you must go."

"I know." Erik said as the carriage door closed. "Oh and Nadir…"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

And so the carriage took off, Erik eager to see his beloved princess once more.

"Well he seemed spritely." Gustave Daae chuckled as his daughter came back to sit on her throne beside his.

"Especially for a man in heels." Christine said as she rubbed her sore feet. "He is worse than his brother, Phillipe. I cannot believe that you made that proclamation for this ball."

Christine huffed as she folded her arms and sat down beside her father.

"Christine, I met your mother at a ball like this." Gustave said, dreamily. "We were so in love. I want you to be in love, my angel."

"How can I find love when everyone here just wants to marry me for my wealth and power?" Christine said, "Besides, I am already in love."

"Ah yes, your crush on the servant you met at the de Chagny château." Gustave said, remembering his daughter's childhood love. "You have only seen glimpses of him throughout the years. Isn't he terrible deformed?"

"He has a burned scar on his face." Christine said. "Do not mock me father, he was a kind man. He was rather handsome."

"What was his name again?"

"Cinderworth I believe."

"Hm. I half expected it to be Erik. You never really met Erik, did you?"

"No I did not, father. His wicked mistress never allowed it."

"Erik was a quite a handsome young lad. I have always wondered what he would look like now. He helped your mother deliver you. Practically saved you from death. That de Chagny lady said that he had died. I rather doubt it."

"I am too assume that you wish for me to find this Erik?"

"I would like you to find someone like Erik. A man who is willing to show kindness whether you are a royal or a lowly street rat."

"Father, I think it is very clear that I am a royal, not a street rat."

Christine looked down at her dress. Its white bodice was tight, showing off her well-shaped body. The skirt ruffled out like a giant rose blossom. As the dress continued, shades of pink began turning into a rich scarlet and finally to a dark maroon at the hem of the dress. She wore her hair down, a few pieces held out of her face by a rose pendant. Around her neck there was a tight black choker necklace and on her hands were long, white, lace gloves. Christine did feel beautiful, but she could also feel everyone's eyes on herself.

"You look beautiful, as always." Gustave said. "But I would prefer you in another color."

"And what color would that be?"

"White. All white."

"Father."

"Christine, I am not getting any younger. Of course I do not plan on dying anytime soon," Gustave added, "but it would be rather nice to see a grandchild or two soon."

"Father!" Christine said, giving him a slight glare.

"You would be a wonderful mother, Christine."

"I...I...I am not ready to raise children."

"Believe me, you will never be ready to raise children. I still feel not ready for it and you are all grown up."

"Father, you did a wonderful job raising me." Christine said, smiling a bit. "But in the area of picking suitors for my hand you have failed entirely."

"Well...then forget about finding someone to court." Gustave said, admitting defeat. "Go have fun. Make some friends. Make lady de Chagny rip her dress."

"Really?"

"Go on."

"Thank you father."

Christine set off into the ball. There she was confronted by all sorts of gentlemen asking for her to dance. Unable to say no, Christine danced with every and any man who asked. She had to admit the best dance she had was when a young boy, around age 7, asked for her to dance to which she happily obliged.

Oh course the best dance soon got replaced when a strange man arrived.

The man had arrived late in the ball. Oh he was so handsome. He had jet black hair, a clean shaven face except for his sideburns. His face was that of an older man, mid to late 30's she suspected, but was incredibly attractive. He wore a tight red coat and high black boots. She watched as many ladies of court tried to speak with him, persuading him to dance, but he just kept walking towards herself.

Christine felt her knees grow weak when the man made his way over to her and offered his hand to her.

"Christine," The man said, his voice deep and hypnotizing. "May I have this dance?"

Christine did not remember saying yes. What she did remember was making a bunch of noises that could not pass off as anything in the French language. Thankfully her handsome suitor understood it as a yes and led her to the floor.

The two danced beautifully together. Their movements were as graceful as two swans in flight. All eyes were on the two lovers which included the eyes of the dreadful de Chagny family.

"Who is he?" Raoul whispered to his brother.

"I have no idea. I have never seen him before."

"He seems familiar." Lady de Chagny said, her eyebrows knit together.

Gustave, who had been watching his daughter the entire time, noticed how she seemed to be fonder of this particular guest than of the others. He chuckled slightly realizing that might have some grandchildren soon after all.

Meanwhile, Erik and Christine were having a marvelous time as they walked around the gardens, hand in hand.

So this is what love feels like, Christine thought to herself as her and her new lover sat down on a bench beneath a willow tree.

Christine rested her head on his shoulder.

"I could stay like this forever." Christine whispered into her lover's ear.

"As could I." He whispered back.

The man kissed her forehead.

"Christine, I love you." He said.

"I love you too, my angel." Christine said, kissing his cheek.

"If I may, my princess, I have a birthday present for you. Two in fact."

First he pulled out his rose, his ring now concealed within the leaves and black ribbon.

"A rose. I love roses." Christine said, taking the present. "They were my mother's favorite flower. We would always have picnics in the rose garden. Thank you."

Christine embrace him.

"The rooms is enchanted." He continued as she pulled away from her embrace. "It will bloom until my love for you dies. I can assure you that the rose will never wilt. There is something more as well. Look between the leaves, on the stem."

Christine did as she was instructed and she found a beautiful diamond ring with a glass back.

"It's beautiful." She said, "But it's far to0 large for my finger."

"It's only ever fit me." Erik confirmed. "My mother gave it to me before she passed. She told me to give it to the woman I wished to marry when I finally found love."

"Then I will treasure it forever." Christine said.

Christine then unclipped her choker necklace and slid on the ring so that it looked like a pedant and not a wedding band.

"Thank you." Christine said as she closed her eyes and leaned down for a kiss.

Erik was about to return the action when he heard the bell tower in the background. He looked up in horror to find that it was almost midnight.

"Christine. I must go."

"What?" Christine said, her eyes bolting open. "No, you must stay."

"You do not understand. I must leave. Christine, I love you."

The man then bolted.

Christine began to chase after him but it was impossible in her dress. She watched as he ran down the staircase, to his carriage and ride out of sight.

"Shall we go after him, princess?" A guard asked her.

"No." Christine said, her hand holding the rose he had given her and the other at her throat where his ring was. "Tell my father that I have another proclamation that is to be announced."

The next morning, the de Chagny family were surprised to find the princess Christine at the doorstep along with a few guards.

"Hello, Madame de Chagny." Christine said boldly as she looked up at the woman (Christine being rather tiny and delicate, "I am looking for the man who ran away last from the ball last night. I have ordered that every man in my kingdom is to try on this ring in order to see if it fits. The man who fits the ring will receive my hand in marriage."

Madame de Chagny quickly fetched her sons. To no one's surprise, the ring did not fit Raoul or Phillipe.

"Where is your servant?" Christine demanded.

"He died." Lady de Chagny said.

"Rather doubt it. You would not be able to feed yourselves without someone waiting on you." Christine said, "I will ask once more: bring me your servant."

Grudgingly, lady de Chagny brought Erik, who had been locked in the basement, to Christine.

Christine easily slipped the ring onto Erik's ring finger before kissing his hand.

"I knew that it must have been you." Christine said, embracing her lover.

"Princess." Erik said, covering his scar. "I am not who you think I am."

"I know exactly who you are." Christine said, taking his hand and removing it from his face. "You are the man who helped my father and mother those many years ago. You are the man who gave me a kitten. You are the man who lives under the tyranny of his step family but has still remained kind. You are Erik, not Cinderworth."

Christine kissed him on his lips. He happily kissed her back.

The two soon were married. Lady de Chagny and her father never bothered Erik ever again. Gustave Daae was happy to be the grandfather to seven adorable and musically gifted children.

And of course, Erik and Christine lived happily ever after.

Author's Note: If you wish to see Christine's dress, the picture for this fan fic is her in her dress. I suggest you take a look at it. I drew it myself but I think it looks pretty good.