Chapter 1
"Cinderella? Cinderella!"
Cinderella was awakened from her sleep by a bouncing, fluffy thing on her bed. She opened her eyes to find Rose, her beloved Eevee, jumping on her right. She bounced on the bed with a big smile on her face.
"Wake up, wake up!" Rose sang in a cheerful voice. "Rise and shine! It's bright and early this morning and it's going to be a sunny day!"
Cinderella sighed and sat up in bed. Valiant was standing at the head of Cinderella's bed, holding her work clothes in his arms. They had been washed.
"Ella, it's almost dawn," said Valiant, "You should get up and start doing your chores before your stepmother gets up. Then we'll continue your lessons after your stepfamily leaves for town."
Cinderella stretched herself awake and got out of bed, giving Rose a good morning hug. It wasn't unusual for Cinderella's Pokémon to talk to her. She always had the ability to talk to Pokémon when she was a little girl, just as Valiant knew how to talk human language from his master.
Cinderella stood up and stretched herself. She went to an old vanity mirror as she undid her braids from last night. She looked every bit like her mother. She had the same long golden wavy hair, flawless apple blossom skin, a diamond-shaped face, and blue almond-shaped eyes. Her Gardevoir, Ariel, and her Ampharos, Bella, were both just getting up from their nests in the corner of the attic.
Cinderella walked behind the folding screen. Her friends Mimi the Marill and Flo the Vulpix were back there, having already set up a small tub full of warm water for Cinderella. As she bathed and washed up, six pink Vivillon made her bed and fluffed her pillow. A Buneary named Patch helped Ariel and Bella mend Cinderella's work clothes. They then helped dress Cinderella and brush her hair.
With Cinderella ready for the morning, Valiant then served everyone a breakfast of bread, apples, and scraps leftover from last night's dinner. It was some of the few foods Sabrina could save for Cinderella and her Pokémon, as her mother and Patricia ate large meals and many second helpings.
As they ate, Mimi asked, "Cinderella, how can you stand that mean old lady and rude girl?"
"'Be kind, be brave, keep a smile on your face, and in the end, happiness will come to you!'" piped Rose, "That's her mommy's motto."
Cinderella smiled. Rose had the same personality as her: kind, serene, clever, industrious, and lovable. She would always smile for everyone.
"But it's been six months and Cinderella's father hasn't returned," said Flo.
"Her stepmother may be ambitious and grim, but she can't keep this up forever." said Valiant, "Everyone in the royal court knows who Ella is, and not even they cannot be easily fooled."
Cinderella sighed. "I was having such a wonderful dream, too."
"What was it about?" asked Bella.
"I can't tell you," said Cinderella.
"Why not?" asked the Pokémon.
Cinderella smiled. "Because if you tell a wish, it won't come true."
After finishing breakfast, Cinderella walked from her room with her Pokémon and started with her chores. On the second floor, Ariel and Bella opened the curtains while Cinderella, Valiant, and Rose quietly made their way towards the stairs leading down to the main floor. Along the way, they saw her stepmother's Purugly, Lester, was already awake and sitting near the banister.
Lester admired Cinderella and despised his mistress, and for very good reason. He was beloved by his mistress as a Glameow, but once he evolved, he was turned away by her for no longer being cute. Patricia and her mother had very specific opinions about Pokémon, preferring beauty over everything and seeing anything else as ugly. Cinderella, however, still saw the same fun, witty Lester he was before, cute or not cute. So he grew further away from his mistress and closer to Cinderella.
The minute he saw Cinderella, Lester stretched himself and walked over.
"Good morning, Ella, dear." he said, "I assume it's time for my morning saucer of Moo Moo milk?"
Cinderella smiled as she always did. Lester and Valiant were some of the few who still called her by her real name.
"Yes, it is." said Cinderella, "I would never forget you, Lester."
"I still can't believe my mistress only liked me for being cute as a Glameow," Lester grumbled.
"And in your own special way, you are still cute, Lester," said Cinderella.
Lester smiled gratefully as he followed Cinderella, Valiant, and Rose down the stairs. Ariel and Bella finished opening the curtains and started dusting. In the kitchen, Cinderella poured Lester a saucer of milk while Valiant lit the stove. Today was the day the family had breakfast with tea in bed. While Cinderella got out the trays and china, Rose went outside with a basket.
She found Cinderella's Charizard, Rex, sleeping near the kitchen door, snoring loudly. Mikey, Cinderella's Absol, was already up and running around outside the stables, scattering Pokéfeed for the chateau's many Unfezant and feeding the family's Rapidash, Jamie. Flo, Mimi, Patch, and Vivillon had already made it outside from the attic window and started folding the dried laundry.
Rose went over to Rex and bounced on his tummy.
"Oh, Rex!" she sang in a cheerful voice, "Wake up!"
Rex grunted sleepily and rolled over on his stomach. Rose slid off while Rex went back to snoring. She nudged his wings.
"Come on, Rex, it's time to wake up!" she said, "It's a nice and beautiful day!"
"Five more minutes…" mumbled Rex, "Just five more minutes…"
Rose frowned. Rex was in one of his 'I'm-Not-Getting-Up-Today' moods. Just then, two Pikachu and two Dedenne came out of the woods. It was Matt and Chase, a pair of wild Pikachu twin brothers who were friends with Cinderella. The Dedenne were also their friends, Sparky and Sparkle. They lived in the forest, but often hang out in the barn were Mikey and Rex slept. Mikey spotted them, too.
"Good morning!" said the Pikachu twins.
"Good morning, Rose!" said the Dedenne.
"Good morning, Matt and Chase!" said Rose cheerfully. "And you too, Sparky and Sparkle! It's a lovely morning, isn't it?"
"If it is a good morning." said Mikey, "I tried to wake Rex to help me with the barn work, but he went right back to sleep."
"We'll get him up," said Chase.
The Pikachu twins smirked as they walked over to the snoozing Charizard. In a synchronized queue, their red cheeks began to spark. A bolt of electricity discharged from their bodies, zapping Rex with a double Thunder Shock. Rex jumped to his feet, now fully awake and angry.
"I'm up!" Rex roared, "Don't do that!"
"Keep your voice down, Rex," said Sparkle, "You're going to wake up that mean lady."
"They still don't need to zap me awake." growled Rex, "I hate it when those two do that."
"Matt, Chase, that wasn't very nice," said Rose, frowning.
"Well, how else can you wake up a snoring giant?" said Matt.
"He'd probably sleep all morning if he could," said Chase.
Rose shook her head. "It still isn't nice."
Cinderella called from the kitchen. "Rex, could you help Rose and Mikey bring me some eggs so I can make breakfast? Please?"
Rex growled to himself as he knew he had no choice. He went over to the Unfezant coop as he was asked. Rex and Mikey helped Rose gathered with about a dozen eggs and placed them in the basket. As Rex and Mikey were left to clean the coop and stables, Rose took the basket inside to Cinderella. The stove was ready and Cinderella was already heating the tea. Three trays with a teapot, breakfast plater, teacup, and saucer were out on the table. Bella had finished slicing bread and laying out butter trays and Ariel was keeping the bacon warm.
"Thank you, Rose," said Cinderella.
She made the eggs into three omelets and placed each one on a plate. She also placed two slices of bread and three pieces of bacon. They then placed the tea and teacups on the trays. Bella had also made Pokémon food for everyone's Pokémon and placed them in feeding bowls. Today, the Pokémon were having Pecha and Bluk berries with sugar and honey. They were just getting ready to deliver the breakfast upstairs when the service bells rang.
"CINDERELLA!" screamed Patricia's voice from upstairs.
"Coming!" Cinderella called. She looked at Ariel. "Ariel, please help me carry the breakfast trays."
Ariel's eyes glowed blue. Two of the trays also glowed the same color aura and they were lifted into the air by Psychic. Cinderella and Ariel carefully carried the trays up. Bella and Rose followed behind with the bowls of Pokémon food. They stopped by the first room, which used to be Cinderella's room. She knocked on the door.
"Enter." said a voice.
Opening the door, Cinderella and Bella walked in. Patricia was sitting up what used to be Cinderella's bed, still her nightgown and cap and glaring spitefully at Cinderella. Patricia was beautiful but not as beautiful as Cinderella was. She had long, thick brown hair, round, deep-set brown eyes, a cold mouth with luscious lips, and a square face with a cute cleft chin. She was the spitting image of her mother, both in feature and disposition.
"Good morning, Patricia," said Cinderella with a smile.
"I didn't ask you anything." Patricia rudely replied.
Now, most people and Pokémon would be insulted or angered by Patricia's rude behavior, but Cinderella was still smiling and didn't take notice. It made Patricia mad that Cinderella never took offense or complained about anything she and her mother did to make Cinderella's life miserable. It made her hate Cinderella even more. Cinderella smiled around the room at five other beds with Pokémon in them.
"Everybody up." said Cinderella, "We brought you all breakfast."
"Well, it's about time," said Patricia grumpily.
Cinderella smiled as she placed the tray in front of her stepsister. Rose, Ariel, and Bella went around to the other beds and gave Patricia's Pokémon their food. There was Blair the Braixen, Buttons the Furfrou, Emerald the Leafeon, Princess the Altaria, and Jewel the white Florges. They smiled brightly as Bella set their breakfast before them.
"Breakfast, everyone," said Bella.
"Thank you, Bella," said Blair in a warm, friendly voice.
"Mm-mmm! Sugar and honeyed berries!" said Emerald, "My favorite!"
Like Lester, Patricia's Pokémon loved Cinderella just as much as they hated Patricia's mother. They were treated better than Lester and the others, but only if they only lived up to the stepmother's expectations. Yesterday, for example, Patricia's Milotic, Gloria, had accidentally drenched her with water while helping her show off for a group of noblemen and she ended up being locked in the cellar all night with no food or water. Cinderella helped her out by sharing her food with her.
Patricia sipped her tea and tested the warmth of her food.
"Just right." she said, "It's better than yesterday. Lay out my green dress for today and wash and mend my laundry."
"Yes, Patricia," said Cinderella. "Ariel, Bella, help out Patricia, please."
Ariel went to the closet and got out a green dress with white lace. As she ironed the wrinkles out, Bella gathered Patricia's dirty laundry and gathered it in a sack. After the dress was ironed, Bella hung it up for later on the changing screen.
"Can I get you anything else?" she asked.
"No," said Patricia, bluntly, "Get my laundry washed and come back to help me dress later."
"Yes, Patricia," said Cinderella, "Enjoy your breakfast, everyone."
Patricia scowled as Cinderella left the room with Rose, Ariel, and Bella. They went down the hall until they reached Sabrina's room. Patricia and Sabrina used to share the room until Cinderella was sent to the attic. Cinderella knocked before entering and found Sabrina already sitting up in bed. Her Espurr, Berry, sitting by her side. Sabrina looked just like Patricia, but had golden hair and blue eyes like Cinderella, taking after her late father. Cinderella smiled as she placed the tray in front of Sabrina.
"Good morning, Sabrina," said Cinderella.
"Good morning, Ella." said Sabrina in a polite voice.
"Good morning, Cinderella!" meowed Berry.
Rose gave Berry her bowl of real berries. Sabrina and Berry were happy to share what food they had with Cinderella and the others.
"How are you and your Pokémon doing this morning?" asked Sabrina as she started to eat.
"Not bad, Sabrina," Cinderella replied, "Not bad."
Sabrina swallowed her food before talking. "I don't have much laundry this morning. Berry plans to dress me this morning so you can get your chores done faster."
"And what are Stepmother's plans?" asked Cinderella as she gathered the laundry.
"We'll be leaving for the town at nine o'clock as usual," said Sabrina, "And return home at six o'clock in time for dinner. We'll be going to a tea party, and then out shopping for the new clothes Patricia ordered for her and her Pokémon for the Perfect Princess contest tomorrow."
Cinderella knew all about the Perfect Princess contest. It was an annual contest where ladies worked and performed with their Pokémon to complete various tasks before the royal court. It was originally done by princesses and ladies of the court, but now it was also open to commoners, too. Cinderella was last year's winner, and despite her stepmother's refusal to let her enter the contest, she was still going to perform again anyway.
"But the judges for looking for the best groomed Pokémon," said Cinderella, "Not the best dressed. I saw the clothes for Patricia and her Pokémon and I don't think they look good on any of them."
Sabrina had to agree. In fact, the clothes that were ordered for the Pokémon were obnoxious and ridiculous. They matched Patricia's dress which was just as tacky and inappropriate. The stepmother knew nothing about dressing the right way to impress others. And it seemed Patricia was the same. Cinderella tried to give her stepmother and stepsister better advice on what to wear and to train for the contest, but two continually ignored her and slacked off, believing she was only saying those things to ruin Patricia's chances of winning.
"Cinderella?!" yelled a voice.
Sabrina gasped. "Oh no, it's Mother! You must go quickly, Ella!"
"Cinderella! Where are you?" called the stepmother.
Bella and Ariel gathered the laundry quickly.
"Coming, Stepmother," Cinderella called.
She, Rose, Ariel, and Bella quickly left Sabrina's room and made her way to her stepmother's room at the end of the hall. Cinderella knocked on the door as she had been told before entering her stepmother's room.
"Enter." said a voice from within.
Cinderella opened the door and walked inside. The room had been refurnished since her father left. It no longer was a chamber for a husband and wife, just a wife. Her stepmother was sitting up in bed in her night garments, her graying hair sticking out from under nightcap and her face cold and hard as stone. Cinderella greeted her with a smile as she always did.
"Good morning, Stepmother," said Cinderella.
Her stepmother's face was expressionless as Cinderella set the last breakfast tray before her stepmother.
"What took you so long?" asked the Stepmother.
"I'm sorry, Stepmother," said Cinderella, "I was distracted."
"Lazy, you mean," said the stepmother as she poured some tea for herself, "What about the rest of your morning chores?"
"They're all finished," said Cinderella.
"Oh really? Did you open the curtains? Sweep the floors? Dust the house? Feed the Unfenzant and Rapidash? Clean the barn and stables? Retrieved the laundry?"
"Yes, Stepmother," said Cinderella.
Rose, Ariel, and Bella nodded.
"Good," said the stepmother, "Wash and mend the rest of the laundry and get on with the rest of your chores."
"Yes, Stepmother," said Cinderella.
Just then, there was a piercing shriek from Patricia's room. A few seconds later, Patricia came bursting into the room, screaming in horror as if she just witnessed someone being murdered.
"Mother! Mother! MOTHER!" she screamed.
Sabrina also came into the room, having heard the commotion from her room.
"What happened?" asked Sabrina.
Patricia could barely talk through her tears. "I-It was h-horrible! It w-was so-so-!"
"Patricia," said the stepmother calmly, "Stop crying and tell me what's wrong."
"Th-There were Rattata in my room!" cried Patricia, "Four ugly, dirty Rattata eating my Pokémon's food!" She pointed at Cinderella. "She did it! She did it on purpose!"
"Don't be ridiculous, Patricia," said Sabrina, "You know Ella wouldn't do such a thing."
"I didn't know anything about-" Cinderella began.
"Silence!" shouted the Stepmother, "Cinderella, it's quite clear you and your Pokémon are not doing your jobs properly! Now reclean the entire house from top to bottom! I want this entire place spotless by the time we return home this evening or you and those wretched Pokémon of yours won't have any meals for a week!"
Valiant heard the whole thing from out in the hall. He let out an angry huff as he knew who got Cinderella in trouble. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted four Rattata running from Patricia's room, their faces sticky with honey and berry juice. It was Pip, Jac, Louis, and Lil, who lived in the barn with Rex and Mikey. They sprinted down the steps and out the door. Valiant caught up with them, stopping them outside the door. The Rattata skidded to a halt at the sight of the Lucario.
"Ah! My Lord!" gasped Louis.
Valiant angrily crossed his arms, looking from one guilty face to the other.
"How many times have I told you not to enter the house while Ella's stepfamily is home?" he asked them.
"Uh, five," said Jac. "Exactly five."
"I shouldn't have to tell you at all!" Valiant scolded, "You know Ella's stepmother and Patricia hate Rattata! Now I have to delay everyone's training and lessons just to help Ella clean the house all over again!"
"Hey, it's not our fault we were locked in with that stupid brat!" retorted Lil.
"We're sorry, Valiant," said Pip, "Cinderella's sugar and honeyed berries are our favorite snack. We couldn't help ourselves."
Valiant scowled at them, still angry.
"Your punishment must fit the mishap." he said, "Once Ella's stepfamily leaves, you will clean the whole house in her place!"
The Rattata dropped their heads and groaned. There was no way they were getting out of this mess.
