Here it is, the chapter you've been waiting for for the past couple of months!
Her gown was ready; a long pink silken dress that kissed the floor. Shimmering sequens decked her bodice and glitter sprinkled all over her skirt. The low-cut material exposed the golden pendant that she wore around her neck, a gift from her father a week before he passed. She slipped her tiny feet into a pair of old sandals, no one would see. Plus, she had no other footwear to wear anyway! When one lives in a house full of stuck up women, and treated with the most disrespect, you could hardly believe that she actually had a decent pair of heels. Her cleanly cut golden hair was neatly brushed and hung loosely around her slender shoulders. The woman cleaned as much dirt and grime off of her face, exposing to the world her beautiful facial features.
"Elizabella!" A voice echoed from downstairs, "We're leaving now, don't forget to have this house spotless by the time we get back!" Cried Scarlett. Elizabella's once excited features were immediately erased, and an expression of confusion drew itself across. Wasn't she suppose to be going too? Why would she clean the house when she was leaving with them to go to the Prince's ball? Racing out of her "bedroom", Elizabella sped down the spiraling staircase as fast as her feet could go.
"Wait! Wait!" She cried, just as the three other women were about to leave through the front door. Scarlett wore a long wine red gown, Giselle wore a frilled golden one, and Estrella was dressed in a short spouted powder blue one. "Don't leave without me; you can't leave without me!" Finally reaching the women, Elizabella came to a complete stop and stared at them with hurt eyes.
"What are you wearing, girl?" Stepmother demanded, her eyes widened. "You cannot clean a house in such an outfit."
Giselle giggled, "Perhaps she wants to at least feel beautiful for once in her life. If she wants to be "Princess Elizabella the Maid", I guess she can do so if she wishes." Estrella joined in on the giggling. They had expected Elizabella to have a torn expression on her face, but they were surprised that she had no sign of sadness in her eyes, just plain annoyance; the two stepsisters seized their laughter.
"Go upstairs and change your clothes, Elizabella, don't make yourself look like the fool that you all ready are." Stepmother stated coldly, causing the two younger women to snicker to themselves.
"B...But, Giselle said that everyone was invited." Elizabella announced in a quiet voice, pointing to the blonde that stood by the somewhat shredded door.
"When I said that everyone could go, I meant anybody who's anybody could go; not just everyone in all the land." Defended Giselle, standing tall with her pointed chin held high. "But, I do think her dress is lovely, Mother, and it would look marvelous on a young beauty such as myslef."
Scarlett took in Elizabella' s appearance, "Yes indeed, I do think that it would look beautiful on you. Maybe you should wear Elizabella's dress instead."
Giselle's face lit up with triumph before Estrella spoke up, "But Mother, I want Elizabella's dress. A woman such as myself would be the object of everyone's attention if I were to wear it instead of Giselle." Giselle glared at her.
"You can't even fit it, you're too thick. I want it and I'll wear it." She said, running towards Elizabella with Estrella hot at her heels. They tore at her gown and shredded it to bits in their effort to get it off of the maid. Elizabella tried to push them away, but her efforts were useless.
"Stop!" She cried, "Please, let go! Stop!" Giselle and Estrella paid her no mind as they tugged and pulled at the soft silken fabric.
"STOP!" Shouted Scarlett in a booming voice. "We shall be late if you two do not stop playing around! Get in the carriage; Elizabella, have this house cleaned from top-to-bottom by the time we get back." She demanded. Giselle and Estrella freed Elizabella and dropped the sparkling shredded pieces of the gown to the ground; they followed their mother out the door and slammed it shut, leaving Elizabella to weep and whimper in the living room alone.
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A little while after the three "ladies" had left, Elizabella stormed out of the house and out towards the backyard. She raced passed the barn, the lake, and the stable in her effort to reach the small garden. She dropped to her knees and rested her had on her crosse arms that lay on a stone bench, crying. The crickets chanted and fireflies flashed all around her, but she paid no mind. A small black puppy nudged her arm and tried to get a view of her face; Elizabella moved away from him and continued to cry. The dog sat by her side for a bit before it spotted some nearby mice in the corner; the dog barked like crazy and chased the rodents around the yard, but Elizabella ignored them.
The dog seized its chasing and barking when it noticed something a bit odd and frightening at the same time. A large colorful bubble floated gracefully in the dark, changing color from blue, to green, to pink, to purple. The dog barked at it and then ran in fright when it suddenly popped near Elizabella and a beautiful woman appeared. She had the skintone of a mix between milk chocolate and smooth caramel; her long black hair curled and slightly blowing in the night breeze. She wore a silvery crown atop her head and a simple white dress that outlined her slender figure. Covering her shoulders, she wore a long black cape with the hood hiding beneath her ebony tresses. Her feet were bare and her skin sparkled as though it were sprinkled in silver glitter. In her right hand, she held a long wand with a clear ball at the end that shined and changed color; she used her left hand to gently pat Elizabella on the back of her head, causing the girl to stop her whimpering and look up at her.
"Why are you crying, Child?" She asked in a soft motherly type voice that Elizabella had not heard from anyone in eleven years. "It is a beautiful night, why are you weeping?"
Instead of answering her question, Elizabella jumped to her feet and slowly backed away from her, "Wh...Who are you?" She asked, her eyes widened somewhat in fear; the fairy woman chuckled and smiled at her, not bothering to move from her spot.
"Young Elizabella, I am Anamaria, your fairy godmother." She proudly informed, her bright eyes locking with Elizabella's glistening ones.
"F...fairy godmother? I have never heard of such a person, nor of you for that matter." Elizabella stated.
"Child," The woman began, slowly walking over to Elizabella, "everyone has a fairy godmother. You've never met me, because you've never needed me. Now answer my first question."
"What was your first question?" Elizabella asked, becoming slightly more comfortable around the fairy.
"Why were you crying?"
Elizabella sighed and allowed Anamaria to lead her to the stone bench; they sat down. "I wanted to go to the Prince's ball tonight, but my Stepmother won't let me."
"Oh? Why is that?"
"Because, according to my stepsister Giselle, I'm not pretty nor anybody special."
"Elizabella, you are a special girl; everyone is. And Giselle was right, you aren't pretty; you're gorgeous. As for your stepmother, does she own you?"
"Well, yes, because she-"
"No, she doesn't. You own yourself, and you are allowed to go to this party tonight because you are your own person. She does not have claim to your legs, does she?"
"No, but-"
"No, you're right. What is she going to do if you do go anyway?"
"Probably give me more housework and then lock me up in my room for a week or two, I don't know."
"Well, then let's make sure she doesn't see you then, hmm?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that you are going to that ball tonight, and your stepmother won't notice see you at all. What do you say, Elizabella?"
The young woman thought this over for a bit, thinking over what Anamaria had said. She was right, she was her own self and she would not let some cold-hearted woman tell her otherwise. So, with her head held high, Elizabella confidentally locked her eyes with her fairy godmother and said, "Let's do it."
Anamaria smiled sweetly at Elizabella before motioning for her to step back a little bit as she gracefully waved her wand in the air, "Bibbady-bobbady-boo", colorful dust and a sparkling mist encircled Elizabella until she was out of Anamaria's sight; once the smoke cleared Elizabella came into view.
She was dressed in a long lavendar gown that shimmered in the moonlight. The skirt of the dress fanned out around her ankles and shined brilliantly, her bodice was box cut and outlined in glittering diamonds. Around her rosey toned neck, Elizabella wore a large diamond neckalace that matched the ring that sat perfectly on her ring finger. Her hair was neatly curled and piled atop her head with a few tendrils brushing against her collarbone. Her lips glistened a cotton candy pink and her skin slightly tanned by small golden glitter crystals.
"You're beautiful, Elizabella." Anamaria said, "Now let's get you to the ball, shall we?" Elizabella smiled at her fairy godmother and nodded. Ana waved her wand again, mist engulfing a small orange pumpkin, three mice, and two horses. The small pumpkin grew to become a large white carriage that was decorated in gold; the three mice scared the black dog off when they amazingly grew to become three large stallions, and the two brown horses transformed to become two gentlemen dressed in black suits. The horses were attached to the the carriage and the coachmen sat on the carriage seats as Anamaria led the agaping Elizabella to the large carriage so she could get in.
"Wow." Elizabella breathed, " this is amazing."
"Isn't it? But, unfortunately, this will not last forever; you only have until midnight before the magic wares off."
Elizabella's amazed expression quickly vanished and was replaced with a sad look as she looked at her fairy godmother, "Really? But, I want it to last forever; I don't want to live here with these horrible people."
"I know you don't. But this is only a temporary spell, so you better enjoy it while you have it, okay?"
Banishing the sad smile from her expression, Elizabella gave Anamaria a hug before she got into the carriage and Ana closed the door. "And remember Elizabella, you are your own woman; your stepmother does not own you, make sure she knows that." With a final gentle squeeze to Elizabella's soft hand, Anamaria got back into he bubble and floated off into the distance as the carriage left for Prince William's ball.
Author's Note: I know, I know, I haven't updated this story in forever. So, I hope I didn't disappoint you in this chapter; see you next time loves!