Hi. So I hate the idea of forever letting a story go unfinished. But each chapter of this story has been harder to write than the last and I don't seem to get much feedback. So if this is a story that you really enjoy and want to see finished, please let me know by leaving a review. And now, let's see what our favorite French Disney characters are up to...

~Chapter Eight~

"Well there has to be feathers in my hair," Drizella said, "You know how much I love that look."

It had been a week since Charles had proposed to Drizella and the excitement was still in the air. The bride to be sat beside her royal stepsister in the parlor, Anastasia and the ladies in waiting close by as the princess sketched out Drizella's dream dress. Cinderella had always been a gifted artist and loved to draw in her spare time. So despite everyone's insistence, she was more than willing to lend a hand.

"In the center?" Cinderella asked, "Like always?"

"Yes."

"If you don't mind me saying," Beatrice inserted, "The standard feather cap is getting a bit out of fashion. Perhaps we should do something to spruce it up a little."

"Hmm..." Drizella hummed, trying to think of a way to modernize the look.

"I have an idea," said the princess, "You could wear a circlet made of pearls with a feather in the front."

"Oh I like that idea!" Drizella said.

"Now how full do you want the skirt?" Cinderella asked.

"As full as possible," Drizella said, "With a floor length peplum."

"Like this?" Cinderella asked as she sketched.

"Yes, that's perfect!"

"It would look really pretty if it were made of chiffon," Anastasia said.

"And you could get the sides embroidered with gemstones," Daphne added.

"Emeralds!" Drizella said, "Then I can wear the earrings Charles gave me!"

"And perhaps a green sash around the waist?" Cinderella suggested.

"Ooh yes," Drizella said, "And green lace on the sleeve cuffs."

"Long or short sleeves?" Cinderella asked.

"Long," Drizella answered, "All the way to the wrist. We are having this wedding in October after all."

"Good thinking," Cinderella said as she sketched out the sleeves, "Now what about the collar?"

"Make that green too," Drizella said.

"Alright, but I meant what type of cut do you want?"

"Oh. Um..."

"A Rose neckline would look lovely on you," Beatrice said.

Contrary to what the name might suggest, a Rose neckline was not in the shape of a rose. Instead the name had derived from the woman who had popularized the style, Queen Aurora I, who preferred to go by the name Rose.

"She's right," Cinderella said, "It would suit you well."

"Alright," Drizella said.

"And a pearl necklace to go with the headpiece," Anastasia added.

"Yes," Drizella said, "That'll look wonderful."

Cinderella sketched out all the suggestions and then held her drawing up. "What do you think?"

"It's perfect," Drizella said, "Thank you, Cinderella."

"Anytime."

Anastasia walked over to a nearby window, gazing at the sky.

"Its such a beautiful day," she said, "Why don't we go horseback riding?"

"That sounds like a wonderful idea," Cinderella said, "I'll go change into my riding dress."

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"Giddy up, horsey!" Adam shouted, hanging on to the king's collar as he and Josette were carried on the king's back, the royal on all fours.

King Louis fake neighed, moving as fast as his aging limbs would carry him, and taking joy in hearing the children's laughter.

"Faster Grandpapa! Go faster!" Josette said through her laughter.

Technically Josette was not the king's granddaughter, but he had come to think of her as such and encouraged her to call him so.

"Oh this horse can't go any faster," King Louis said, "I'm an old steed."

"You'll always be a young steed to us, Grandpapa," Josette said.

"Oh thank you, my dear," he said, coming to a stop, "But I'm afraid this steed has outrun himself for the day."

"I wanna ride a real horse," Adam said, "Why can't I ride Magnifique?"

"I'm afraid you are too young, Adam," the king said, "In a few years, your mother will teach you to ride Major and a few years after that you'll be able to ride Magnifique."

"But Major is Maman's horse," Adam argued, "I want to ride my own horse!"

"He'll still be too young, Adam," Josette said, her fascination with the animals giving her extra knowledge of them, "It takes eight years for a horse to grow up and you know how Aunt Cindy feels about putting the young to work."

"But he's a horse, not a person!"

"Come on, Adam!" Josette said, "Major is a great horse. You love him!"

"I don't care!" Adam said, stomping his foot, "I want to ride Magnifique!"

"That's enough, young man!" the king said sharply.

Adam bowed his head. "Yes, Grandpapa."

"Now," King Louis said, "Would you two like to hear a story?"

"Yes! Yes!" the cousins shouted excitedly.

The king went to sit on his bed. "Alright. What would you like to hear?"

"I wanna hear the story of Princess Florine and King Charming's undying love for her," Josette said dreamily.

"Blegh!" Adam gagged, "That story is for girls! I wanna hear Puss In Boots!"

"But Adam," Josette protested, "That's where your Papa got his pet name!"

"Hmmm... What if I told you something new?" the king suggested, "Something you haven't heard before?"

"Ooh, like what?" Adam asked with wide eyes.

"Let me tell you the story of a young prince who was terribly ugly but unimaginably smart, and the princess who was strikingly beautiful but... not very bright."

"Oh that sounds like a good story!" Josette said.

"I guess so," Adam said, "Tell it, Grandpapa."

"What's the magic word?" the king asked.

"Please?" the two children said, giving their cutest expressions.

"Alright. Once upon a time..."

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"White doesn't seem right for a second marriage though," Charles said as his tailor measured him.

"If you wear black, it'll suggest you're dreading the marriage," said Léon, "Is that what you want?"

"No, no, of course not," Charles said.

"Grey, perhaps?" the tailor suggested.

Charles was silent a moment as he considered it. "Yes that should do well."

"Alright," said the tailor, "The suit should be done in a week's time. Good day, messieurs."

"Good day," the brothers said in unison as the tailor left.

Charles glanced down at his wedding band and sighed.

"You're thinking about her again, aren't you?" his brother asked.

"I think she would've really liked Drizella," Charles said.

"You're probably right," Léon said, "I can see the two of them and Alycia all chatting about the latest fashion trends for hours."

Charles laughed. "They both have a liking for theatre as well."

"Her highness and Anastasia both say she's a changed woman since she met you," said Léon, "That you bring out the best in her."

"And Suzanne brought out the best in me," Charles said, "I suppose it rubs off."

"So have you decided where you want to hold the wedding?" Léon asked.

"Her highness offered to hold it in the royal chapel, but we both feel like that would be too extravagant for our station," Charles explained, "We also thought about holding it on the shore of the lake where I proposed to her, but it might be a bit cold."

"We could hold it at our home if you'd like," Léon offered, "In the back garden, under the willow tree. Then once the ceremony is done, we can all immediately go back inside."

"You'd be willing to do that for us?"

"Anything for my big brother," Léon said.

"Well, I'll ask Drizella. I'm sure she'd love to have the ceremony at your estate," Charles said.

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"She still refuses to speak to me," Lumière said with a miserable sigh.

"Do you want me to feel sorry for you?" Diane asked as she scrubbed the dishes, "Because I don't. This is your doing Lumière. You have no one to blame but yourself."

"Maman, you're supposed to be on my side," Lumière said.

"Not when you're in the wrong," his mother said, "Let this be a lesson for you, mon petit. A woman's trust is not something to be tampered with."

"Oui, I've learned the hard way what comes of it," Lumière said, "I shall never love again now!"

Diane rolled her eyes. "Don't be so dramatic."

"Its true," Lumière said, "Angelique is Heaven sent! No mademoiselle can compare to her. My life will never be the same now."

At that moment, Prudence walked in and saw the young man sitting at the table.

"Are you still sulking?" she asked.

Lumière groaned. "Why do you care, Prudence?"

"Because you have duties in this castle and yet here you are slacking off! I know this week has been difficult for you, but life goes on! This isn't an excuse to neglect your work!"

"I have to agree with Prudence on this one," Bernot said, "I can tell you haven't been paying attention to anything I've taught you. You can't let this get in the way of your daily life."

Lumière only sighed.

"Listen, Lumière," Bernot said, "When my fiancée left me at the altar, I was heartbroken. But the world didn't stop for me. I had to keep going and you must do the same. You've wanted a career as a maître d' since you first came to this castle. Don't let your current problems get in the way of that goal."

Lumière sighed again. "Very well."

Bernot patted him on the back. "That's the spirit! Now..."

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Major was tired. Cinderella could tell by his slow pace, so she dismounted from his back and brought him to a nearby stream to drink.

"He really is getting old," she said, "Isn't he?"

"I'm afraid it happens to all of us eventually," Daphne said as she and the others brought their horses to the stream as well.

"He'll be even older once Adam is ready to ride," Cinderella said, "Maybe I should pick a different horse for him to learn with?"

"It shouldn't be too hard for Major to carry a five year old," Drizella said.

"Perhaps," Cinderella mused, "But he already seems to be struggling a lot. I imagine it'll be even harder for him to carry extra weight two years from now."

"Only time will tell, Your Highness," Beatrice said.

"We've been together so long," the princess said with a fondness in her voice, "I hate to think he'll soon be gone."

Major affectionately nuzzled his mistress, as if to tell her to make the most out of their time together.

"I always wished Mother had let us play with Major like she did when Stepfather was alive," Anastasia said, "I didn't think he smelled bad or looked weak at all."

Major looked at Anastasia with what appeared to be a smile.

"If he did look weak it was only because Mother never let him get any exercise," Drizella remarked.

"I think Lucifer was the only animal she ever had any real affection for," Anastasia said as she stroked her horse's neck.

"Well I know she hated Bruno from day one," Cinderella said, recalling how disgusted her stepmother was whenever the bloodhound jumped on her.

"I think she just hated anything that didn't conform to her exact idea of the perfect household," Drizella said.

"I second that," Anastasia said, "I remember Mother and Stepfather having a huge shouting match over which languages we should be taught, as if there were some that were more high class than others."

"Nothing discriminatory about that at all," Beatrice said sarcastically.

"Hmm... that may also explain the way she treated you, Your Highness," Daphne said, "Its certainly not a tradition for women to raise someone else's child."

"If they'd only had the type of child protection you've instituted now," Drizella said, "This all could've been avoided if someone had just investigated."

"Someone did once," Anastasia said, "In a way..."

Flashback:

Anastasia tried in vain to walk with the book balanced on her head. But each time she could only make it a couple of steps before it fell down. Frustrated she picked it up from the ground and made her way upstairs when she heard a knock on the door. She opened the door to find a man she had seen in town before. It was Monsieur Villandon, the butcher.

"Hello, Anastasia," he said, "How are you today?"

"I'm good. What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to speak with your mother if it's not too much trouble."

As if to answer his request, Lady Tremaine came to the door at that moment.

"What can I do for you, Monsieur?" she asked.

"I'm here because I saw your daughter at my shop yesterday and I'm a bit concerned about her," the butcher explained, "She's looking frightfully thin as of late."

"Oh yes, I know," Lady Tremaine said, "She's quite a picky eater."

Anastasia looked at her mother in confusion. That didn't seem right. She had suspected her step sister had lost so much weight because she was given such small rations of food to begin with.

"I see," Monsieur Villandon said, "And what about those bruises? She looks as though she's gotten into an awful brawl."

Anastasia knew the answer to that. "Oh, that's from when Mother-"

But her sentence was cut off as her mother covered her mouth with her hand.

"She's quite a rambunctious child," Lady Tremaine explained, "I'm afraid she gets herself hurt quite a bit. It really is a struggle to keep her out of harm's way."

"Ah, yes!" Monsieur Villandon said, "Sounds like my own boys. Well I just wanted to make sure everything was alright. Good day, Madame."

"Good day, Monsieur," Lady Tremaine said as he left.

As soon as the door was shut, the woman's kind demeanor changed to threatening as she turned sharply on her daughter and grabbed her face tightly.

"You listen to me, Anastasia Lucille Tremaine," she said, "What I do with Cinderella is never to be known to anyone and if you ever reveal anything to anyone, you'll end up just like her. Do you understand?!"

"Yes, Mother," she said nervously.

"Good," Lady Tremaine said as she left the eleven year old girl to wonder why she had just gotten in so much trouble.

End Flashback:

"I should have just told that butcher the truth," Anastasia said, "But Mother was so... so..."

"Don't blame yourself, Anastasia," Cinderella said, "You didn't even know what she was doing was wrong."

"But I should've figured it out when she turned on me like that."

"It still wouldn't have changed anything," Drizella said, "The kingdom never really took these things seriously, until now that is."

"We can't change the past," Cinderella said, "But we can learn from it. Who knows how many children we've already saved from terrible homes?"

"You're right, Cinderella," Anastasia said, "We're making great progress."

"And that's thanks to you, Your Highness," Beatrice said.

"You're exactly what this kingdom needs," Daphne said.

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"Mama, I finished shining the shoes," Emily said, "Can I go play outside now?"

"Yes luv," Mrs. Potts said ruffling her youngest child's hair, "You've been a good girl today. Go have some fun now."

"YAY!" Emily shouted as she ran out of the kitchen.

"No running!" Mrs. Potts yelled, but her daughter was already out of earshot.

"Seems like it was just yesterday she was young enough to do nothing but play," Mr. Potts said as he washed his hands.

"I know," Mrs. Potts said, "They grow up so fast!"

"She has your hair," Mr. Potts said, "And your nose."

"And she has your eyes and freckles," Mrs. Potts said.

"She'll be a real beauty some day. As beautiful as her mother."

"Oh stop!" Mrs. Potts said, blushing.

Mr. Potts kissed his wife on the cheek before moving to clean the counters.

"Richard," his wife said with a slightly timid tone of voice, "I want more."

Mr. Potts paused in his movements. "More... what?"

"I want more children dear."

"Angela, we already have six beautiful children. Can't you be content with that?"

"Not really," Mrs. Potts said, "They just keep growing faster and faster."

"I know luv," Mr. Potts said, "But each of your pregnancies has been more difficult than the last. I don't know if you can handle another one."

"Its worth it though," said Mrs. Potts, "Look at the precious gifts I have in return for my labors."

"I can't really argue with that, I'll admit," said the head cook, "But what if you don't make it? Then you won't even be able to see them all grow up."

Mrs. Potts sighed. "I suppose you're right. Its just..."

"I know, luv," Mr. Potts said, "You just want to make sure they have always have each other."

"When my parents died I was completely on my own," Mrs. Potts recalled, "Not a sibling, uncle, aunt, or cousin to turn to for help. Its a miracle I found you. I don't ever want them to be in the same position if something happens to us."

"I think its fair to say that they'll never go through what you went through."

"Yes," Mrs. Potts said, "Yes they'll always have each other... But still... just one more child? To hold... To nurse..."

"To change diapers?" Mr. Potts asked with a smirk.

"Oh Richard!" Mrs. Potts said, swatting his arm.

"You know I'm just teasing, luv," he said, "But alright, we can try for one more."

"Thank you," Mrs. Potts said, "I love you, Richard."

"I love you too, Angela."

The two locked lips, the rest of the world forgotten to them.

Well there it is, at long last. The next chapter will probably be the wedding unless I think of something else that needs to happen in between. Leave your thoughts in the reviews along with any characters you'd like to see more of. To quote Wotso Videos:

Have a magical day!