~Chapter 6~

Noella

Samson was the most powerful horse I'd ever ridden. We were able to cover quite a distance in a short period of time, but soon we found the next barrier. Samson was spooked by it and wouldn't move too close to the wall. The energy coming off of this wall was more intense than the last and I was curious why that was. No matter, I had a mirror to find. The barrier came down at the touch of my hand and beyond the barrier I was grateful I saw a city with a large palace near the center. It was a nice change from a forest. I trotted down the main road leading into town and people were hustling around. I moved Samson forward and in the center of town square there was a large marble pedestal with a proclamation nailed to it.

"Attention citizens, the anniversary celebration is tonight and the prince and princess will delight in the presence of your company tonight at six sharp. Look forward to it."

At the bottom there was a golden seal of the grand duke of the kingdom. I trotted over to a nearby merchant who was selling fruit.

"Excuse me, sir. Do you have the time?"

"It's five." The gruff merchant answered.

"Thank you." I smiled graciously and moved on.

I wanted to talk with Riley, but there were too many people around. It wouldn't be safe to talk now, but I think I did remember enough of what Cinderella looked like. In my experience so far, these princesses are kind of easy to spot by how they act. I didn't know how else to look for her, so the best course of action was just to start. I dismounted Samson and tied him to a wooden post where other horses were and I went looking around. The marketplace was busy with loads of people preparing for the ball tonight. I went down a secluded alleyway that actually led me right to the baker's shop. The aroma filled the entire area and made my mouth water. As I entered the shop, I could smell the butter baked into croissants and I even picked up scents of cinnamon from the Snickerdoodles. The baker smiled at me as I approached the counter.

"Would you like a cookie?" He asked. "They just came out."

"I would, but I'm afraid I don't have any money."

The baker smiled warmly and handed me a cookie anyway.

"In honor of the anniversary ball, it's on the house."

"Thanks." I smiled.

I turned to leave, but bumped into a woman both of us crumbling to the floor.

"I'm so sorry." I said quickly, "I wasn't watching where I was going. Do forgive me."

"No harm done." The woman smiled.

She had shoulder length blonde hair that was wrapped up in a white bandana. She was dressed like a servant wearing a white apron over her clothes. Her eyes were bright blue and then I realized who she was.

"You're Cinderella aren't you?" I asked.

"Shh." She said quickly grabbing my hand taking me outside.

The woman peered back at the baker through the doorway curiously.

"Don't suppose he heard you…" She commented.

"It is you though isn't it?" I asked.

She nodded smiling broadly.

"Don't you have a ball to get ready for?" I said.

"I have plenty of time. Besides I was curious of what the baker had cooking for tonight."

"It's kind of perfect I found you. It's important I talk to you." I pressed.

"Have we met?" She asked crossing her arms.

"Not at all, but I promise I'm a friend. My name is Noella and I need your help." I told her.

Cinderella grabbed my hand pulling me along.

"Tell me on the way to the castle. You'll be my honored guest for tonight."

I started my explanation keeping it brief and to the point as I grabbed Samson and both of us went to the castle. We dropped off Samson at the stables and I left my pack with the walkie attached to Samson's saddle. I was going radio silent for now and Riley would have to understand that, but I knew this couldn't take too long. Cinderella led me through a small garden leading up to the steps of the palace and every single guard we came across bowed low politely to Cinderella. We began climbing the grand staircase of steps.

"Do you always leave the castle looking like this?" I asked curiously.

"I like to blend in keeping it casual and just look like an ordinary woman outside the palace walls. It's always a welcome change to the rules and ceremony of palace life. Though I wouldn't change my life with Charming for anything."

"That's really his name?" I asked curiously.

Cinderella laughed shaking her head.

"Let's just say it's a nickname that stuck…" She answered.

"The name is Thomas actually." A man with dark brown hair wearing formal attire said as he approached us. His outfit was regal in appearance wearing a cream jacket with gold appliques on the shoulders with tassels attached along with red pants with a gold stripe on the side. Finishing off his look, he wore white gloves and buffed out leather black boots. I bowed to the prince politely trying not to trip as I did so.

"Cinderella, I've been looking for you. Guests will be here shortly." Thomas scolded.

"It's fine. I'll be ready in ten. You worry too much." Cinderella replied patting his face gently before kissing him.

"Is a man not supposed to worry about his wife?" Thomas said raising a brow.

"Maybe worry a little less." Cinderella winked.

"Who's your guest?" Thomas asked looking at me.

"This is Noella." Cinderella replied, "She needs my help."

"Anything I can do?" Thomas questioned.

"No not at all. Just meet me in the ballroom." Cinderella instructed.

"As you wish." Thomas said and left us alone.

Cinderella took out her bandana and led me to her chambers. We went inside the room and Cinderella quickly closed the door behind us. She shook out her hair sitting down at her vanity before combing it gently.

"I promise to help you Noella, but I'm afraid it has to wait until after the ball."

"Hey, you're doing me a favor. Waiting is a part of life. I just wish I knew my mom was alright."

Cinderella turned to face me looking sympathetic.

"You will find her, I know it." She smiled reassuringly and turned back toward the mirror. "I wish I could remember more of my mother. After mother died, father remarried Lady Eleanor Tremaine and she's the only mother I knew. Growing up she didn't acknowledge me much unless she had to, but when father died, she showed her true colors. I became a scullery maid in my own house…"

"We don't have to talk about the past...I realize how painful it was." I said walking over putting a hand on her shoulder.

"You're right. I realize a series of unfortunate events had to happen in order for me to have the life I do now. If my stepmother and stepsisters hadn't abused me with all the chores, Fairy Godmother wouldn't have come to change my life."

"Time is short, Cinderella. You best get ready." I smiled.

Cinderella rose from the vanity and grabbed a golden rope cord that was attached to the wall. She gave it a good pull and soon three maids presented themselves bowing low. Cinderella moved behind the changing wall with two of the maids to dress. The third maid just looked at me.

"Emmaline is at your disposal, Noella." Cinderella told me, but I was confused.

I looked down at my attire, which coincidentally looked appropriate for a fancy ball to me. A bright crimson dress with a circlet on my head. Emmaline started to fuss with my dress pointing out the rough hem from the ride.

"Really, you don't have to." I insisted nervously.

Cinderella emerged wearing a gorgeous purple ball gown with silver earrings and matching choker necklace. Her hair was twisted into a braided hair crown that was incorporated with a tiara. She excused the maids promptly and then it was us two again.

"You look stunning." I smiled.

"As do you." She replied. "Do you have an escort coming to the ball?" She asked curiously.

"Oh no…" I laughed lightheartedly, "Romance for me is non existent."

"How come?"

"I pushed people away for academics…" I shrugged.

Cinderella spritzed herself with perfume before opening the door to the room.

"While I applaud any pursuit of academics…" Cinderella commented, "It's no substitute for a truly meaningful connection with someone." She offered me her arm as she led me out the door. "I mean realistically, Charming and I wouldn't have met just simply speaking for our backgrounds, but that night at the ball was remarkable. With one simple dance when he touched my hand leading me in that waltz, but then we talked for an hour before he kissed me right before midnight..."Her voice trailed off as if in a daze of nostalgia.

"And the rest they say is history." I smiled.

"It's been a perfectly, wonderful year." She nodded.

Just ahead of us down the hallway was the entrance to the grand ballroom. Thomas was waiting just a few steps away to escort his wife in. I went ahead coming in and standing toward the back of everyone trying not to draw attention to myself. The ballroom was packed with people of various social rankings, but I'm glad such things like that didn't matter here. A joint community of people regardless of class coming together in celebration of a royal marriage was a beautiful thing.

Thomas and Cinderella were announced into the room by the duke and a roar of applause erupted. They began the night with a waltz by themselves in the center of the room, but soon everyone else was able to join in. While couples made their way to dance, I made my way to the buffet table for a little snack since the last thing I ate was a cookie at the baker's shop. I snacked on some cheese and crackers eating a few not even noticing how hungry I was until now. A few handsome, kind guys came right up to me asking for a dance. Though flattered, I refused them all. Frankly, dancing was something foreign to me and I didn't want to embarrass myself. After an hour of endless dance refusals, Cinderella came and found me.

"Why aren't you dancing?" Cinderella asked, "I saw several gentleman approach you in the past hour…"

"Dancing isn't one of my strong suits…"I shrugged, "Are you having a good time?" I asked.

"It's everything I hoped for and more. Especially since I just told Thomas that he was going to be a father."

My eyes raised in surprise and I hugged Cinderella excitedly.

"Congratulations." I said smiling broadly.

"We make a royal heir announcement tomorrow, but for now. Only three people know."

"Thank you for the privilege." I grinned.

"Alright, now before I let the excitement run away with me, let's get you an audience with that mirror." Cinderella said determinedly, "Follow me." She said leading me outside to the gardens. We circled around the side of the palace passing by several topiaries and large rose bushes. Then finally a large fountain was in the center of all the green scenery.

"What a lovely fountain." I commented.

Cinderella brushed her fingertips across the water gently making ripples appear.

"Charming took me by this fountain the night we met at the ball and six months ago...he revealed the truth to me. This fountain is a magic mirror."

"Really?" I said feeling surprised.

"You merely need to brush over the surface of the water and then say: Show thy true form."

Immediately the water stilled and a face in the murky water revealed itself. The face in the reflection looked back at us and the entity within the water had an expression of fear or terror and the face was lavender in color.

"P-Princess, how can I h-help?" The mirror said.

"It's my friend here who needs your help actually." Cinderella commented.

I took a step toward the fountain taking in a breath.

"I'm on a journey to find my mother and each of you magic mirrors have clues to help me, so that's why I'm here."

"Your mother is indeed here, but not all within her is exactly as she may appear. To the west of here you must board a ship in port find someone on those docks for support. Across the sea, you must go and look over the sides, Ariel you must find among the tides."

"Thank you." I replied.

"These mirrors sure are wise. I didn't know we had a port to the west." Cinderella shrugged.

I smiled putting a hand on her shoulder.

"The world is a much bigger place than you might think." I replied.

The entity in the fountain vanished as we were joined in the garden by another person. She was a tall, regal looking woman wearing a long red dress with a green broach attached to the chest of the garment. Her hair was a dark grey with two small sections of lighter grey mixed throughout. She walked with a long cane in her right hand steadying herself along. I glanced at Cinderella whose eyes widened in fear at the approach of this woman.

"Stepmother?" Cinderella mumbled.

"A pleasure to see you again." The woman replied bowing mockingly.

"Who are you?" I said stepping in front of Cinderella defensively. It was clear that this woman wasn't welcome.

"Lady Eleanor Tremaine and who might you be?" She asked me. Her eyes scrutinized me from head to toe in a very judgmental manor. I didn't like it.

"Leave at once," Cinderella said firmly, but also timid. The fear was evident in her tone. "Y-You're not welcome here."

Lady Tremaine frowned crossing her arms dropping her cane on the ground.

"We're family, you wretch. How dare you speak to me like that."

"Leave now!" I ordered putting my arm around Cinderella.

"Oh my dear, we are all leaving." Lady Tremaine said calmly pulling out a white stick from up her sleeve.

"How did you get that?" Cinderella said sounding more alarmed. "Guards!" She yelled quickly, but nobody came. In fact, I hadn't noticed until now that it had been unusually quiet since being out in the garden. The music from the orchestra of the ball wasn't filling my ears.

"Right now, time is at a stand still for us. Nobody is coming. Your prince cannot help you." Lady Tremaine said coldly.

She began tapping on the white stick and it began to glow and radiate with magical energy. Lady Tremaine swirled above her head and the entire sky turned a shade of green amidst the darkness of the evening.

"Take these two out of my sight back to the manor that Cinderella once knew. Bibbity Bobbity Boo."

The magic power released and Cinderella took my hand as the world around us faded away.