Chapter 14: Reflection
Cinderella Tremaine
Cinderella balanced twelve different shopping bags while trying to keep up with her Stepsisters who were tearing through the after-Christmas sales.
"Cruella's fur muff was a steal at 69.42" Drizella shoved her hands into the real fur muff.
"Not as much as the sparkly pink New Year's Dress I got from Eudora's." Anastasia gestured to a bag that Cinderella was carrying underneath her chin.
"Don't slobber on our stuff." Drizella snapped and strut towards the next department store, heels clacking on the mall tile while Anastasia's crocs squeaked
"Ella." A gentle voice broke through the din of the mall.
She turned to see Charles, peacoat unbuttoned, hand in his pocket, waving at her.
She lit up like a firework as he stepped towards her.
"How was your Christmas?" He asked.
"Simply magical." She sighed.
"I know your busy but I was wondering if you'd like to come by my place for New Years Eve this year. My dad's on a business trip and we're having a party." He said.
"We'd love to come." Anastasia squaked.
"Thanks for the invite, Charming." Drizella winked and snorted up a booger at the same time.
"No problem, of course." Charles gave his most swoon-worthy smile. "I'd love to see you all there." He gave a little wave and was off.
"There's no way we're letting you ruin this one Cinderella." Drizella sneered. "You don't possibly have anything you could wear to a Prince party."
"You're right, I don't." Ella shrugged but her wheels were already turning. She had some blue fabric. Maybe she didn't need a Fairy Godmother to make a nice dress. Maybe, she could make her mother's design on her own.
The rest of the day at the mall, Cinderella was lost in a dream world no matter how often her Stepsisters scolded her. She was thinking of how she could adapt the ball gown design into a cocktail party dress, make it more of an homage to her mother's design than a replica. She would keep the same neckline but maybe reduce the ruffles. She would definitely shorten the skirt and make it less voluminous. She could complete the dress by New Years. She was certain of it. Nothing excited Cinderella like designing a new dress.
Ariel Triton
Ariel felt weird with her mom now. They were sitting round Ursula's small table and Ariel watched Jim take a bit bite out of a Spring roll and Ursula devour rice with shrimp. It made Ariel involuntarily shudder.
"Something wrong?" Jim sipped his water.
"Nothing's wrong." Ariel squeaked. She was certain she saw her mom's eyes narrow at her.
Whatever her mom had planned involving her and Ariel's deal, it made Ariel very uncomfortable. She was anxious to find the truth but dare not even approach the subject.
"What are you doing for New Years, mom? While Jim and I are at the party?" Ariel played with her rice.
"I'm going to have my gal pals over for a reading. New Years night is an auspicious time." Ursula sucked up another shrimp.
"Who are your gal pals?" Ariel tried to ask innocently.
"What's go you in such an inquisitive mood, my little guppy?" Ursula bit the next shrimp with such vigor that Jim jumped a little.
"Just wanted to get to know you more. There's so much to catch up on. I wanna know what makes you tik." Ariel gave a sweet smile.
"All in due time." Ursula grinned and laughed to herself a little.
"The party's been going on for like an hour." Jim checked his watch. "Time for our late arrival. Thank you Madame Ursula."
"You're welcome, young man. Now swim along now. Have fun." Ursula practically pushed them out the door.
"Happy New Year, mom." Ariel called as Ursula shut the door.
They rode to the party of Jim's motorcycle.
"What was that all about?" JIm asked.
"What?' Ariel brushed her hair out of her face.
"Your mom was acting all aggressive and you were being all skittish. Is everything alright Ariel?" He seemed genuinely concerned.
Ariel thought about telling him the truth but she doubted that he'd believe her. He'd probably just call her Scariel. She wasn't going back to being the weird girl. She had come too far.
"Everything's fine." Ariel lied.
Tiana Orleans
Tiana placed some hot beignets in front of her mother.
"These smell as delicious as ever." Eudora smiled.
"Thanks ma. It's my special holiday candy cane beignet recipe. I'm trying it out." Tiana grinned. "I was hoping that my restaurant could have a seasonal menu, so nothing ever feels stale or tired."
"I love listening to you dream about your restaurant." Eudora's smile faded. "But I worry about you, Tiana. It's your Senior Year and you have no plans for New Years Eve."
"I don't got time for stuff like that. Lottie invited me to some party but I have work tomorrow. I gotta get to bed." Tiana started cleaning the kitchen.
"Show up to work tired then." Eudora took a bite of the beignet. "These are scrumptious Tiana. But you gotta live a little. I'll clean the kitchen. You get dressed up all pretty for the party tonight. I'll drive you there and home. There may be booze but I don't wanna know."
"But mama." Tiana groaned.
"No buts about it. You're going." Eudora put her foot down and Tiana knew better than to disobey her mother.
Fa Mulan
Mulan had felt lost since soccer season's dramatic end. She liked the structure sports brought to her life and until track and softball started up she had felt directionless.
"Be a lady and keep your elbows off the table." Her mom snapped her back to the present.
"Sorry mom." Mulan muttered. She knew her parents had wanted a much more traditional girl and that she was always disappointing them.
"Any New Year's plans?" Her father sipped his tea.
"Just a party with the boys from the soccer team." Mulan shrugged.
"Boys." Her grandma lit up. "Those cute, strapping ones? Bring one home for me."
"Grandma, those are my friends." Mulan blushed.
"Only friends?" Her mom said hopefully.
"Just friends mom." Mulan said firmly.
Her mom sighed. "I suppose so. What boy wants to date a woman stronger than he is?"
"Now dear-" Her father tried to defend her.
"No, she's right." Mulan cut him off. "Even if I did like a boy, they'd never like me back."
"That's not true." Her family said all at once but Mulan just sighed and went back to her noodles.
Truth is, she did like a boy, but she knew that he would never like her back.
Philip Prince
Philip but up the last of the New Year's streamers up. "How's it look?" He called down to Kristoff who stood at the bottom of the latter.
"Suitably festive." Kristoff called up. "Don't you have a butler for this?"
"I asked dad to give the staff a day off, considering he made them be here for Christmas." Philip climbed down the ladder. "They're visiting their families."
"Have you ever cleaned up a party before?" Kristoff smirked.
"No. Why?" Philip smiled cheerily. "It can't be that hard."
"Not sure if I should tell you." Kristoff smiled.
"Come on Philip, we gotta get the wine bar set up." Charles called him. "Snow and Ferdinand are busy in the kitchen and I sent Eric and his friends to get the keg."
"He sent Eric, not giant Adam, for the keg? This should be interesting." Kristoff laughed.
Flynn Rider
Flynn, Aladdin and Eric sat in the car, outside the brewery.
"So how are we going to do this?" Eric looked at his friends expectantly.
"We don't have fake IDs and Flynn's facial hair is patchy at best." Aladdin sighed.
"My facial hair is flawless." Flynn clapped back. "I have a plan."
He didn't have a plan.
Flynn waltzed into the brewery, Eric and Aladdin in tow.
"Hey barman." Flynn waved to the short man behind the bar. "We're here for the order."
The man glared at Flynn. "For?"
"Hubert Prince." Flynn smiled.
"The ex-mayor? What's he doing sending kids to pick up his beer?" The man grumpily crossed his arms.
"We're not kids. We're interns." Flynn stood his ground.
"Interns? What kind of Interns?"
"Campaign interns from Brown." Flynn crossed his arms at the man.
"Eh, Brown, you say. What dorm do you live in?" The man peered up at Flynn.
"The brown one." Flynn didn't skip a beat.
"Then how come you're in Waltville interning." The man shoved a finger at Flynn's chest.
Flynn daintily moved the finger away. "We're back in Waltville despite the failed campaign because Mr. Prince wanted to have a party to thank us for our work and to talk about what went wrong. My name is Eugene Fitzherbet, son of Claudius Fitzherbert, he works for the State Board of Health, so unless this wooden cottage of a brewery can pass several of the most rigorous health tests, I suggest you don't upset me."
"I don't need your fancy threats, let me just fetch the keg for you." The man trudged off.
"You did it." Eric clamped him on the shoulder.
"That man was very grumpy." Aladdin huffed.
The keg was a hit. The party was lit af. The whole mansion was filled with drunk teens, dancing and thrashing to Lil Nas X and Rhianna. Flynn was already tipsy as he walked around the Prince Manor.
Snow White was clapping along as John Smith danced on a table. Jasmine and Ariel were taking shot after shot. Philip did a keg stand. Aladdin and Eric were drunk wrestling. Esmeralda was dancing on a pillar like it was a stripper pole while Phoebus and Pocahontas threw dollar bills at her. It was even better than Halloween.
The clock kept ticking closer and closer to Midnight and one thought wouldn't even escape a drunk Flynn's mind. He wished Rapunzel was here.
Adam Prince
Adam wasn't too drunk, but he was drunk enough where he wanted to ask Belle about their kiss on Christmas. She was talking to Moana down the hall, by the library, because of course she was.
Adam lumbered on towards the two girls. "Hey! Happy New Year!"
"Happy New Year!" Moana smiled back.
Belle's smile was much more subdued. "Hi."
"I was wondering if I could have a talk with Belle." Adam smiled.
"Oh sure, you can tell me about that demigod adventure story some other time, Belle." Moana gave Belle a quick hug and bounced off towards the hub of the party.
"What is it?" Belle asked.
"I wanted to talk to you about… the kiss. On Christmas." Adam mumbled out.
"Oh, that." Belle looked at the ground. "It was a moment of weakness. It won't happen again."
"Why not? We would be great together." Adam stepped towards her and she stepped back.
"I sensed something in you, Adam. Something dark and frightening." Belle looked at him like he was the Beast.
Adam went pale.
"Maybe it's just, I don't know, weird things have been happening and I'm not in the right mindset for love. I'm sorry." Belle looked up at him with sad eyes.
Adam sighed and did his best to keep the darkness in his mind at bay. "I understand. We can just go back to being friends."
"Yes, I'd like that." Belle smiled and looked at him like he was a human and in that moment that was all that Adam needed.
Aladdin Ata
The tequila burned Aladdin's throat when it went down.
"Happy New Year!" He cheered along with Jasmine and Jim and Ariel.
"How many of these have you had?" Aladdin shook his head from the sharpness.
"Like 3 or 5 or 7." Jasmine shrugged.
"Or 99." Ariel laughed so hard that she almost doubled over
"You girls okay?" Aladdin was concerned. It was only 10.
"They're fine." Jim grabbed him by the arm. "Did anyone ever tell you that you have like perfectly smooth skin?"
"No, um, thanks." Aladdin blushed.
"That's a big deal. He never tells me that." Ariel poured some liquid in a solo cup that she handed to Jasmine.
"Get a better moisturizing routine, bitch." Jim laughed and Ariel planted a sloppy wet kiss on him.
"Maybe take it easy, Jasmine." Aladdin thought her cup reeked of vodka.
"It's New Year's Eve. I wanna have fun!" Jasmine screeched and the whole party echoed it back to her. "Come on cutie, let's get you a drink."
Jasmine squeezed Aladdin's hand. Another drink didn't sound so bad.
Ariel Triton
Jim smelled like so much booz and Ariel felt herself spinning. She bumped into someone.
"Hey, watch it." Hans brushed off his shirt. "This is gucci."
"You're gucci." Jim smiled and stroked Hans' arm for a moment.
"Thanks." Hans gave a small smile as Jim squeezed his bicep.
"You okay, Ariel?" Eric took Ariel's arm and sat her on the couch.
"I'm great. Not drunk enough." Ariel giggled.
"Same. I'm far too sober." Eric chuckled.
"Than let's get a drink." Ariel grabbed his shoulder.
Ariel knew she was dating Jim but Eric's blue eyes melted her every time.
Anna Arendelle
Anna could not find Moana anywhere and Jasmine and Ariel were both so sloppy. Anna felt isolated. Even Snow White was off dancing with her Ferdinand while Anna sat there alone in her sparkly gold dress.
"Can I join you?" Kristoff appeared in front of her in a black t-shirt and jeans.
"Why not?" Anna shrugged and sipped her root beer.
He took a seat on the chaise lounge next to her.
"Pocahontas has been asking about your sister." Kristoff played with his red solo cup. "I think she has a crush on Elsa."
"It's not like I know much about Elsa." Anna sighed. "For all I know, she could be a lesbian or furry or anything. She's been giving me the cold shoulder all my life."
"You really love her though, still." He gazed at her with chocolate colored eyes.
"Of course. She's my sister." Anna straightened up.
"Even though she doesn't treat you very well?" Kristoff sighed.
"I don't know why." Anna looked at her drink.
"Elsa doesn't deserve you but I'm glad she has you." He smiled at her.
"Thanks." Anna leaned a head on his shoulder. "Sometimes I just wish I had someone to love me back."
"I bet you will someday." Kristoff said softly. "Someday soon. Like you put in your song."
"You liked my song?" Anna lit up.
"Of course, it was amazing." He almost spilled his drink. "Truly incredible for your first song."
"It was an honor to sing it." Philip slid next to Kristoff.
"Thanks, Philip." Anna smiled.
"How are you two doing tonight? This Golden Retriever bothering you?" Philip scratched Kristoff's head.
Anna laughed. "He's being a good boy."
Kristoff shoved him off. "Some thanks I get for helping you set up. I don't see you bothering Kenai and he bailed on setting up."
"Don't be so sensitive, buddy." Philip shrugged.
Just then, the big door in the foyer flew open and Philip went pale.
Philip Prince
It was Angelina, in a skin tight leather romper, striding in on 6-inch heels. She strode straight for Philip.
He instinctively leaned back and grabbed Kristoff's hand.
"I don't recall receiving an invitation." Angelina leaned to Philip. "I trust it was an innocent mistake, my love."
Angelina kissed Philip on the lips. Her lips tasted like blood and bile and sweet poison and Philip tried to pull away but it was as if his body was fighting his will.
Kristoff and Anna gasped.
"My love?" Kristoff was agape with disbelief.
"Are you two dating?" Anna looked at Philip like he had just kicked a puppy.
"We don't like labels." Angelina smirked. "Fetch me a drink, Philip, dear."
Philip nodded and sprung up. His legs seemed to carry him to the kitchen of their own accord. Every sense, every muscle was in her control. He was helpless and the black veins in his body began to painfully throb. He was Maleficent's slave.
Adam Prince
Adam felt a darkness rage through his chest. His hair stood on end and his bones ached. He was transforming.
"You okay." Hercules offered a steadying hand. "Drink too much?"
"I think so Herc. Let me just get to my room and sleep it off." Adam bolted for the stairs.
"Do you need help?" Hercules called.
"I'm fine, man!" Adam responded hoarsely, his beastly nature, rippling through his torso and covering his chest with hair.
Adam booked it to his room at the far end of the west wing, where nobody was. He slammed and door shut and threw himself on the bed, shoving his face into the pillow to muffle the roar the shoved its way out its mouth.
His hands turned into claws and tore through the duvet and the pillows and the mattress, sending feathers and springs and fabric everywhere.
He looked up to see a handsome portrait of himself staring him down. Adam looked at his current form in disgust and ripped the painting to shreds with his massive claws. The image just mocked him. This was how he was going to ring in the New Year, as a Monster.
Tiana Orleans
Tiana hated this. Drunk people everywhere. Loud music. Gyrating people. Lottie talking endlessly about her break-up with Naveen and how it had been overshadowed by all the other drama. Tiana loved her best friend but she was relieved when Lottie left her alone on the balcony to get a drink.
Tiana shivered in the cold.
"Need a coat."
Tiana jumped to see Naveen offering her a jacket.
"What are you doing out here?" Tiana asked.
"I was looking to avoid Charlotte, she is holding court in the kitchen, railing about how terrible I am." Naveen placed the jacket on Tiana's shoulders.
"I don't want your jacket flirting. I'm Lottie's best friend." Tiana threw the jacket back at him.
"I was not flirting. Thought flirting would be nice. No?" Naveen raised an eyebrow.
Tiana rolled her eyes and inched away. "I have no interest in flirting, let alone with my best friend's ex-boyfriend."
"If you do not flirt. What do you do for fun?" Naveen sat next to her.
Tiana scooched farther away. "I work hard."
"That is no fun." Naveen shook his head.
"I dream." Tiana looked up at the stars. "I dream of opening my own restaurant, like my daddy always wanted to do. People from all over will come just to try my cooking."
"That is beautiful." Naveen smiled.
"Thanks." Tiana blushed. She hated to admit it but Naveen really was charming. His warm eyes made her feel more listened to than she had been in years.
Fa Mulan
Mulan watched Philip sit on a chair in the kitchen staring blankly ahead, Angelina leaning on his shoulder.
She turned to Kenai next to her. "He doesn't look happy."
"He doesn't." Kenai shrugged. "Super weird that he would date Angelina. Seemed like they could barely stand each other."
"Something must be wrong with him." Mulan sipped her drink.
How could a lovely, sweet, handsome guy like Philip date an evil monster like Angelina?
"You know, he's always going to see you as one of the guys." Kenai broke Mulan out of her thoughts.
"What?" Mulan could feel her cheeks turn red.
"He doesn't like you the way you like him. You're awesome but you're not his type." Kenai said.
"Gee thanks for that." Mulan turned towards the other room.
"There are other guys that think you're great. A girl worth fighting for." Kenai followed her.
"I don't want just any random guy. What does Angelina have that I don't have?" Mulan turned to face Kenai.
His face went blank. "I feel like I shouldn't answer that question."
Mulan rolled her eyes. "You suck."
"Philip's an idiot for only seeing you as a tom-boy. But I also don't think he cares for Angelina." Kenai glanced back. "He looks trapped."
"You're right." Mulan nodded. "Something is wrong with him and we need to get to the bottom of it.
Cinderella Tremaine
The glass slippers seemed to reflect light off the snow. Ella held her jacket tight as she trotted up the steps to the Prince House.
She found the door ajar and a massive pile of coats and cardigans just inside. She took her jacket off and looked around. This was her first time in the Prince Manor. It was breathtaking.
The ceilings were high and hung with crystal chandeliers. Priceless paintings hung on the walls and a large marble staircase wound up from the foyer to the second floor.
Ella spun around, taking in the beauty. She felt a gentle hand grab her own.
"Charles." She smiled at the sight of Charming Prince.
"Happy New Years. You look stunning." Charles admired her blue dress.
Cinderella twirled. "I made it myself."
"You did?" His jaw was agape. "That's amazing."
"It was my mother's design but I made some changes of my own. I'm so happy with it." She smoothed out the blue skirt.
"It reminds me of the dress you wore to homecoming. Same color, even the same butterflies on the neckline." He pointed to the sparking butterfly pins she had sewn in.
"That was the idea. I'm so glad you noticed."
"Blue really is your color." Charles offered her a hand. "Now let's get a drink."
Anna Arendelle
Anna was watching the party from the balcony above. Kristoff, despite being drunk and shirtless, was trying to talk to Philip and Angelina. Boys were so dumb.
"Anna?" Pocahontas ran up the stairs, beer in hand.
``Oh hey Pocahontas." Anna was dreading this. She liked Pocahontas but she was not ready to field questions about her sister.
"Great job on the Holiday fundraiser." Pocahontas climbed onto the railing of the banister and dangled her feet over the edge. It made Anna's stomach turn.
"Thanks." Anna sipped her root beer.
"Where's your sister?" Pocahontas kept swinging her legs.
"Elsa doesn't usually come to these kind of things?" Anna tried to laugh.
"Parties? I feel that." Pocahontas nodded.
"Anything really." Anna smiled sadly. "She doesn't like to come to anything."
"Why is that? Aren't you two close?" Pocahontas asked.
"I don't know." Anna held back tears. "I don't know anything about her."
Tears welled up suddenly and Anna bolted down the stairs, straight into Kristoff.
"You okay?" He looked at her with concern, his bare torso smelling like sweat and peppermint.
"I don't want to see your nipples when I'm crying." Anna cried and ran to the bathroom, slamming the door.
Aladdin Ata
Aladdin carried a stumbling Jasmine into an empty room.
"You sure you don't have to throw up." He asked the drunk girl.
"I'm fine. I just need to sleep." Jasmine's yawn turned into a hiccup. "Oh look, a bed." Jasmine slunk onto the bed. "You should join me. I want to cuddle." Jasmine pulled him closer to the bed. "Or maybe more." She attempted to pull down his joggers.
Aladdin jumped back. "You're dunk. I'm not fooling around with you while you're drunk. It's not right."
"But you're so cute." Jasmine whined.
Aladdin could feel his face growing warm from embarrassment.
"Are you blushing?" Jasmine giggled.
"No, I just, I just." Aladdin stammered. "You should sleep." He strode towards the door.
"No, don't leave me alone." Jasmine cried.
Aladdin's heart broke. "Fine." Aladdin opened the door with a sigh.
"I'll sit right here and we'll talk." Aladdin sat by the open door, mindful for both of their reputations.
"Does your life ever feel just so under control that you want to just, I don't know, lose it?" Jasmine asked from the bed.
"Opposite. My life always feels so out of control that I can't get it on the rails." Aladdin thought about how the craziness of dealing drunk Jasmine was nothing compared to the supernatural shenanigans he was dealing with lately.
"Sometimes I just feel." Jasmine sighed.
"So…" Aladdin searched for a word to describe the panic and stress he constantly felt.
"Trapped." They both said in unison.
They smiled at each other, shocked but happy to find a kindred spirit.
Cinderella Tremaine
"I love your dress." Esmeralda handed Cinderella a drink.
"Thanks, I made it." Ella smiled proudly.
"Girl, I might have to put an order in for one of my own. I was thinking a red number with a high slit. I'd look good as Hell and support my friend's talent." Esmeralda clinked her red solo cup against Ella's.
"I might need to look into making commissions." Ella never thought that someone else would want her designs.
"I'll be customer number two." Belle winked at her.
"It just looks lovely." Snow cooed.
"Your little girl gang, it's just so adorable." Esmeralda smiled.
"We're always open to new members. You just have to be ready for anything." Cinderella shrugged.
"Really. Anything." Snow nodded with her big brown eyes wide as can be.
"Normally, I would balk at taking new members, but Esmeralda's cool." Belle shrugged.
"I can't tell if this is a clique, club or cult." Esmeralda laughed.
Suddenly the music slowed to Elvis's Can't Help Falling in Love.
"Pre-Midnight slow dance." Charles shouted over the groaning crowd.
The crowd assembled into couples.
"May I have this dance?" Charles bowed to Ella.
"Don't be so formal." She laughed and took his hand.
They swayed in the middle of the dance floor, not seeing anyone but each other. Everything felt perfect in that moment.
He smiled down at her and she felt butterflies in her stomach and a drum in her heart. "So this is love?" She thought.
"I was so happy you could come." Charles smiled.
"I'm glad I could be here." She sighed and put her head on his chest.
"This may seem fast, but I've never felt this way about anyone." He whispered.
"Oh Charles, I-"
Just then, the music stopped and everyone started counting down. The room filled with cacophony. "FIVE! FOUR! THREE! TWO!"
Charles looked Ella straight in the eyes. "Can I kiss you?"
"ONE!"
Ella nodded and Charles kissed her as the clock struck Twelve and the bells rang in the New Year. The kiss felt dramatic, like a crashing wave or the sun breaking through a storm cloud. Everything in her felt bright as the stars and her heart was soaring through the clouds on wings.
Everyone was too busy celebrating to notice but Cinderella's glass slippers were sparkling with white light.
One person noticed.
Philip Prince
Mulan and Kenai were cheering but they kept giving him weird looks. Philip wished he could tell them how trapped he was but his tongue wouldn't move.
"You okay?" Mulan asked as Angelina gripped his shoulders.
"Yep." He nodded, right as the clock struck twelve and Angelina thrust her lips onto his.
Philip's eyes were wide open as she chewed his face and he saw, in the midst of the crowded party in his family ballroom, Cinderella and Charles kissing. Her glass slippers sparkled with light. He looked straight at them and they seemed to sear into his soul. The throbbing veins that hurt his body calmed down. The darkness seemed to seep away from his muscles and he regained control.
He shoved Angelina off. "This wasn't part of our deal."
"I think it was." She snarled.
"What deal?" Mulan asked but Philip was already striding across the room towards Cinderella.
"Cinderella." He called as she broke from her kiss with Charles.
"What is it, dude?" His brother asked, annoyed.
"I need help." Philip grabbed Ella's hands. "Keep me away from Maleficent."
She looked at him with bright blue eyes, filled with light. "Of course, I'll help you."
As he looked at her in all her beauty, the dark magic seemed powerless, like the only true power in the universe was the power of light, of believing in dreams.
Angelina grabbed his shoulder. "Get away from her."
Cinderella squeezed his hand and stepped towards Angelina. "Why? Is he yours to control?"
Maleficent narrowed her eyes at Cinderella, green fire burning in her irises. "He is mine, you insipid bitch."
"He doesn't belong to you. No one does." Cinderella stepped in front of Philip pointing her foot out.
Maleficent glanced down at the sparkling glass slippers. "You poor simple fool. You think those give you enough power to stop me? Those tacky heels are nothing compared to the full force of my power."
She turned on her heel and stormed out of the party.
"What on earth was that about?" Charles looked at Philip and Cinderella for an answer. Mulan looked at Philip for an explanation as well. He wasn't ready to give one.
Ariel Triton
Ariel was with Eric in the conservatory while Jim and Hans drunkenly wrestled in the parlor.
"I'm glad I'm single." Eric mumbled between sips of his drink.
"Why is that?" Ariel gazed up at him, headache already setting in.
"I feel free to be who I am. No one is telling me how to live."
"I feel the same way." Ariel beamed.
"I wanna take my shirt off, there's no one to tell me not too." Eric whipped off his white shirt to showcase his chiseled abs and built chest.
"Same." Ariel unzipped her blue dress, leaving herself standing in her lacy purple underwear, a Christmas gift from Jasmine that she had saved for tonight.
Eric looked at her, silently. A million thoughts ran through her head. "Are my boobs to small? Was this too much? Am I not pretty enough? Does Eric think I'm a slut?"
"I guess it's that kind of party." Eric dropped his pants and was no only in his black boxerbriefs.
"Happy New Years." Ariel whispered, certain she was beet red. She couldn't believe she was acting like this, drunk or not.
Just then they heard the countdown. Eric strode towards her, "Happy New Years to you too."
As the clock chimed midnight, he kissed her. It was sloppy and wet and smelled like whisky but to Ariel it was perfect. She leaned into it but then pulled back.
"I'm sorry Eric, we can't do this. One of us is in the relationship."
Eric looked drunk but thoughtful for a moment and then he smiled. "Let's just invite the brunette then."
Jim entered Eric's room cautiously. "Ariel?"
"Surprise!" Ariel and Eric jumped out of the closet, giggling.
"What the fuck!" Jim jumped up onto a nearby chair. He looked down at the almost nude pranksters and started laughing too. "You guys got me good."
"Take those clothes off." Eric started undoing Jim's belt.
"Do you wanna fuck?" Ariel giggled.
"You wanna jump straight to three-ways? Rad." Jim tousled Eric's hair as Eric pulled down his pants.
"I have condoms for both of us." Eric smiled.
What happened next was a lot. Ariel felt piercing pain and otherworldly pleasure. She finally felt worth it. Beautiful. She was finally worthy of Eric's passionate attention.
Ariel looked at herself in the mirror as she fucked. She looked stunning but the reflection changed. It was now of a green forest. A girl in a grey dress and black bodice and purple shawl was singing with a bluebird. She lowered her hood. It was Briar Rose.
She gazed at Ariel with longing. "You've always been beautiful to me. I know you don't always feel that way but you are beautiful."
Ariel gasped but a moment later and the vision was gone.
"You okay?" Eric asked attentively.
"Better than okay." Ariel smiled.
All three of them lay sleeping in Eric's bed long into the night. Ariel awoke to see that Eric was sitting on a small sofa, looking out his large windows.
"Have trouble sleeping?" Ariel asked from the bed.
Eric smiled at her, then turned back to the night sky's gently falling snow.
Ariel crawled out of bed, shivering, and joined him on the couch.
"You okay?" Ariel asked.
"Having a three-way with you and Vanessa has been a fantasy of mine for like a year." Eric chuckled.
Ariel went pale. "O god, Eric, that was-"
"Jim. I know. I knew before we started. I meant for you to get Vanessa but I didn't mind when I saw Jim. I guess I'm a little bi." Eric shrugged.
"That's so open of you." Ariel relaxed.
"What was life like before Waltvile for you?" Eric asked. "All I know is this place."
Ariel thought back to her faded memories as a mermaid. "I used to watch the sky a lot." She remembered. "Watch the stars with my mom and dad. I was so lame."
"Don't say that." Eric said softly.
Ariel leaned her head on Eric's shoulder. "It's just, I used to be such a lame nerd until I moved out and now I'm free and I'm popular and nobody calls me Scariel and people think I'm fun and sexy and you think I'm fun and sexy and my life is so much better." Ariel smiled, satisfied and hungover.
"There was nothing wrong with how you were before." Eric stated.
"That's fine for you to say." Ariel scoffed. "You used to treat me like crap."
"I was the one that had a problem." Eric retorted.
"Okay, Mr. Rich and Popular." Ariel rolled her eyes.
"Is that how you see me?" Eric nudged her off his shoulder.
"Sort of." Ariel said quietly.
"You're so much like Vanessa." Eric huffed.
"I am not. We are so different." Ariel snapped.
"You both just see me as the solution to your heartache, not an actual person." Eric stormed off.
"Eric, come back." Ariel grabbed his arm.
"Go back to my bed with your boyfriend." Eric wrestled free of her grip.
Eric didn't know her. He didn't know everything she yearned for, everything that made her ache and just wanted Eric to understand her and it seemed like he never would. And that made her almost want to cry.
Ariel turned towards the cloudy sky and missed that night when she watched the Autumn stars with Briar Rose. She just wanted Briar to be here with her more than anything. But she couldn't be and that made Ariel cry.
Reflections
Mulan gazed at her reflection. She wondered if she could ever be the person she wanted to be. A hero, someone who could be loved and make her family proud or would she just be a gross tomboy that disappointed everyone?
Adam gazed at himself in a broken mirror. Was this his true form? Deep down, was he just a monster.
Ariel combed her hair with a fork that Eric had left on his dresser. He didn't have a comb. Ariel wondered with Ariel was the real her. Sexy Ariel? Innocent Ariel? Mermaid? Human? How come she couldn't recognize her own reflection.
Pocahontas looked at herself in the mirror. This new sexual energy inside of her was new and alluring. Who was Elsa Arendelle and why did she make her feel so different?
Rapunzel combed her long blonde hair. Was this hair a gift or a curse? It was truly a magical power but was it worth being locked up away from all her friends?
Kristoff prepared to step in the Prince shower. Could Anna like him back or was he too much of an awkward mess, a fixer upper?
Tiana came home on edge. Was she truly the kind of girl that could be charmed by her best friend's ex-boyfriend? Maybe she was, but she hated that.
Aladdin looked at himself in the mirror. Was he just someone people picked when they needed him and then threw him away or was he actually worth something?
Flynn was exhausted and drunk. But was he Eugene or was he Flynn. He had no idea
Anna dried her tears in the bathroom. Was she the hot mess girl? Is that who she was? She just wanted to be loved and she wondered why everyone she loved left her.
Elsa was alone when the New Year began. As alone as she always was. Elsa hated who she was and what that had done to the people she loved. Poor Anna, Elsa just didn't know how to be there for her in the way she needed. She wished she knew. She cursed herself for not knowing. But she knew that keeping her distance was ultimately the best for everyone.
Philip lay in his bed. His door was locked and blessed with holy water. His muscles were throbbing. He was in so much pain. He just wanted this all to be over. He was so scared and sad and tired of being so scared and sad. He just hoped that Cinderella could save him.
Snow White hugged her stuffed animal deer. She was so in love with Ferdinand and it made her feel as light as a bird in the sky. Until she saw her stepmother watching her from the hall and her blood went cold. Those piercing green eyes chilled her to the core because she felt that someday, Grimhilde would murder her.
Moana felt the sea calling to her. In her sleep, when she was awake, at school, at home, at parties. Sometimes quietly, sometimes loudly. Either way, she felt that the roar of the sea had chosen her for some reason.
Belle read till the early morning. She just couldn't shake the feeling of that dark foreboding that had touched Adam. It was horrifying, but it called to her, like those stories she was always reading about. Like an adventure.
Eric stormed down the hall. He didn't know why he was so mad. Everyone just saw him as some stereotype. A bad boy. A boy to satisfy their pain. A boy with no real problems. Truth was his heart hurt. He started hurting when his mother died and it never got better.
Vanessa cried. She meant to take that Ariel down a peg tonight but Ariel swooped Eric up before she had a chance to talk with any of them. She gave everything for her life. For Eric and popularity and the cheer squad, and no one, not even a little slut like Ariel could take them from her. She was done being the victim.
Jim knew his relationship was a lie. When he overheard Eric and Ariel, he realized it was a lie on both ends and he hated to admit it but that hurt.
Charming watched Philip try to sleep and Cinderella pace about. He wondered what was going on and if anyone would tell him. And worst of all, he wondered why hadn't either Ella or Philip, two of his closest confidants, told him what had them so upset.
Esmeralda went home. Something had felt strange that night and she couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching all her friends. That someone was watching her.
Cinderella watched her shoes and dress sparkle in the mirror and wondered: why her? What about her was special at all? What about her was ready for this insanity? She was just one teenage girl. How was she supposed to take on the forces of evil? She didn't know how she would face all that darkness but she knew she would and that she would have to win.
The Princess Aurora
Princess Aurora gazed at her reflection in a glistening pool in a forest. On the other side of the trees was a wasteland of thorns with sharp prickers, tangled for miles. In the forest of thorns was a mountain with a crumbling fortress that reached into the green, stormy sky. Aurora knew that in order to get out of this dreamland, she had to face whatever was waiting for her in that fortress or risk staying here forever. She was already struggling just to remember who she was.
An owl perched on her shoulder and nodded. A squirrel, two birds and two rabbits emerged from the thicket. These would be her companions on the journey. She gave them a loving smile and turned towards the ominous citadel on the horizon. The journey begins now, before she forgets Briar Rose forever.
A/N I love you all! This story has been getting amazing feedback lately which is so rewarding. You guys are the reason I put so much time into this! Luv ya! Like you really empower me and I'm so thankful. Please let me know what you think!