BitterMint
Chapter 3
Author Notes: As per usual it takes way too long for me to remember to update these chapters lol. But thankfully for me I have a ton saved up in stock. But we'll worry about that another time. Right now we need to get to the actual story. I do not own Cinderella Phenomenon.
3rd P.O.V
"Now it is time to say goodbye to your precious crown."
How could this happen?
"Sweet dreams...Cinderella."
She was right there!
Right. There! "No!" And within a matter of seconds she was gone. Her princess...the one that Pepper cherished and desired to protect more than anything else...was gone. Taken away...from her. Just like everything else that she's ever deemed precious.
Why did this happen? How could anyone expect this!? Hours ago they were having fun, enjoying what little peace they had away from judgmental eyes. No longer playing the roles of heartless princess and hidden pet.
'Why doesn't father love me Pepper?' The moon illuminated the garden, giving the various flowers a beautiful glow as Pepper shifted for the first time in the month. 'What happened Lucette? Why are you crying?' The cursed girl had been waiting all day to see her friend.
But she didn't think she'd find the red haired princess so somber. 'I went into town per my father's orders. With Emelaigne, Rod and Fritz...and I...' Pepper watches as she clutches her mother's necklace, struggling to breathe.
It took a second for her to realize that Lucette was having a Panic attack! Immediately Pepper wraps her arms around the younger girl, holding her close. 'Breathe princess. You're ok.' They stay in those positions for a few moments longer.
And though Lucette remains silent in that time, Pepper knew she was grateful as she clutched tightly to her human flesh. If Pepper felt the clothes on her person dampen before Lucette released her to tell her what was bothering her...she would not say anything.
"What have you done!?" The newly shifted Pepper snarled, raising her volume higher than she has the last four years as the witch took in her human form with a raised eyebrow. Mint green hair with white specks interwoven into a wavy ponytail, sea green eyes that stared hatefully.
It was familiar to Delora, but she couldn't quite place how. "I knew there was something off about you. Not the typical bunny rabbit are you?" Shame filled the cursed girl's frame. She should've recognized the witch sooner...she should've realized that there was something wrong before it got to this point.
But it was too late. And was not in no mood for Delora's mind games. "Where. Is. She?!" She had no idea why Delora did this, but she couldn't care less. Even if it killed her, she would make the snarky magic user pay.
"I wouldn't know. Probably out in town. She needed to be taught a lesson." That...was the wrong thing to say. Raising her hand Pepper unleashed a spell. A bright red magic insignia formed, heading straight for Delora. "She deserved none of the sort! You will pay for doing this to her!"
However within seconds Pepper was forced to watch with frustration at how her flames were easily quelled before Delora's barrier. Even while in human form she wasn't at her strongest. "Damn!" Her curse bound her strength from its fullest potential.
Worse still, Delora found herself genuinely surprised but unconcerned with her attack. She hated that look on her face. "Could be better..." So full of of false pity, her condescending attitude knew no bounds.
"I didn't think she had a fairy godmother protecting her...lot of good it did." Pepper felt like a child again as Delora smirked her way. Pissing her off all the more. Her mind flashed back to her childhood. How often the damn witch made fun of her during training.
Her mother giving her a kind, sympathetic look, praising her for her efforts...even though everyone else looked down on her. Questioning what the woman was thinking taking on such a hopeless child. "Now who are you?"
Pepper shook her head, now wasn't the time for her to get lost in the past. "Well?" Instead she growls as she takes a step back. Keeping her eyes peeled on Delora's hand, ready to retaliate the moment she starts forming a spell.
"What's going on here?" Suddenly both women froze as the harsh steps of guards approached with muffled shouts. "Uh oh." None of this was good. Lucette wasn't here, even worse she was in human form, she couldn't hide like she usually would.
And with how rusty she was with her magic she couldn't teleport or cast a glamour on herself. "Looks like we got company. I don't know who you are or what you're doing here...but I suggest you leave. The Ice Princess is no longer in the palace."
With a wave of her hand and a bright light Delora vanishes from sight. Leaving Pepper alone to deal with this mess she caused. "Still a bitch..." There wasn't much time. With large strides Pepper leaps out the window, just barely out of sight of the oncoming guards. She falls.
Summoning a spell to slow down her descent she safely drops to the ground without a sound. "Phew..." It takes her a few moments to catch her breath but then she runs. "Intruder!" Only to curse when she's seen not even a few moments later.
Lights one by one turn on, the entire castle awake and alert. "Damn..." This was not how she intended her night to go...let alone stay in her human form for this long but if Lucette was somewhere in town, then she needed to move and move fast.
She could cover more ground like this. "Seize her!" She would run as far as her human legs could carry her. But it was hard even with the adrenaline pumping through her veins. "Ow!" If dodging the constant strikes from swords(and failing) wasn't bad enough she had no idea where to go.
It wasn't too often she left Lucette's room, let alone explore the palace, afraid of being caught. Honestly Pepper was regretting it now as she had no idea how to get out of this place. It was a maze of doors and soldiers.
"Don't let her get away." Why did human architecture have to be so infuriating to maneuver in!? Fortune despite it all smiled upon her however as she reached the palace gates. "We got her on the ropes!" Her ticket out of here.
She leaps, climbing the golden gates before gracefully landing outside. "Open the gates!" She wasted no time rushing along the empty pathway into town. There was no particular destination she had in mind. But no matter what she had to lose them.
And that opportunity presented itself specifically in the form of the narrow alleys. Covered in the darkness of the night she hides behind some crates. Curling herself up into a ball as swordsmen rushed past.
Even with the dim lighting guiding them at the palace they still saw her green hair, so she would have to be careful. For a few moments after the men ran she unfurled, hissing in pain as blood seeped from her arms and side.
She didn't notice before at just how good the palace warriors were, but she underestimated them. Regardless of her wounds however she had to keep moving. "Lucette...hang on." Before she could even rise from her position she could feel a sharp pain hit her chest.
"Oh no." Coughing she remains on her knees, her fingers gripping the rough earth. "No no not yet!" She didn't realize it while running for her life but, chit chatting with Delora, throwing magic around willy nilly and outrunning the guards had taken her time.
She had just made it into town. "It's not yet morning dammit! Please-I need to find her I-I haven-!" Pain overtakes her in throbbing waves. A voice only heard in her nightmares springs forth.
'I'm not letting you die Peppermint. So I curse you.
You will shift into a being that will seem unsuspected.
You're magic will be limited.
Three that you truly love and trust will set you free.'
A glow surrounds her being as she falls to the ground, losing consciousness. "Princess..." A pained breath escapes her as her body shifts once more. Her body shrinks, skin replaced with fur extending in long soft strands.
Ears and claws lengthened off her form, her nose twitches as long whiskers grow right underneath...No matter how much she struggled against the shift, she was back to her powerless rabbit self.
Now with injuries that would kill a normal rabbit before nightfall, if not sooner. "Damn you Delora...I knew I never liked you." With that final hate filled sentence, she offers one last prayer to Lucette before closing her eyes. Losing herself to the midst of darkness.
Completely unaware of a shadow creeping on her unconscious frame. "?" Firm, gentle hands reach forth, grabbing her. "Oh no." Immediate inspection on Pepper's battered state left the stranger running, desperate to help. "Hold on!" Unaware of just how unusual the black and white mammal was.
to be continued
Author Notes: Well that's a dramatic end of the chapter. My poor character just can't catch a break. Hopefully things will get situated next time, we'll have to see~ But that is it for now.
Guys thank you all so much for reading the stories guys. If you like it please feel free to fav/follow/review as it would mean a crap ton to me. I'll see you all next time. Tchao for now.
