-2 Years Later-

Her father never returned. She waited by the window, day and night to see if he had just been running late, or if he had simply been carried away by his work. However, after about two months, Ella's new stepmother told her that he wouldn't ever return. This crushed poor Ella's heart, making her fall into a period of slight depression.

Lady Tremaine and her cruel daughters, Drizella and Anastasia, had turned poor, innocent Ella into their personal maid. They stripped her of her belongings and nice clothes, except for a few books that they let her keep to read in any spare time she could find between doing the different chores they chose to throw at her. She also managed to convince her stepmother to allow her to keep her horse, who she had grown very attached to.

"Get us our breakfast and then go into market to buy some more things for dinner." Her stepmother explained to her, "Are you listening to me?" She scowled.

Ella snapped her head in the direction of her voice, "What? Oh… Yes, stepmother." She continued folding the clean clothes she had just pulled off the drying rack mere moments before.

"No need to call me that." She said almost bitter-sweetly, "Madam will do." She smiled darkly, watching as Ella nodded quietly.

"Should I get your daughters dressed for the ball?" Ella asked shyly, "Or shall I wait until later?"

"It's far too early. Go… clean the kitchens or something." Lady Tremaine waved her away, a sign of dismissal that Ella had quickly learned meant that she had no more chores for a few hours.

Quickly curtsying in respect, Ella hurried off to the kitchens, taking off her apron before she rushed out to the stables, beginning to tack up her horse for her ride, which she barely got to take. As she tended to her horse, she saw the sun peaking behind the clouds, making her smile. She never really had anything to smile about, but she could already tell this afternoon would be different than the others.

She quickly rode down the dirt path she had always been told to follow since childhood, trying to escape the stress that came with each day that she spent with her stepfamily. They often ordered her to do the most ridiculous chores, most of which she figured were just them trying to push her buttons. Taking a deep breath, Ella shook her head, clearing it of all the thoughts that weighted down on her shoulders, keeping her from finding or even being happy for a simple moment.

After she had been riding a while, another pair of hooves could be heard coming up quickly behind her, causing her to panic slightly, kicking her horse into a gallop.

"Woah!" A man rode up beside her, grabbing the reins of her horse to slow her down, "Woah there…"

Ella avoided his gaze, "I'm sorry, sir. I didn't mean to disturb you. I was just riding through. I'll be out of your way now." She couldn't help but notice how handsome he was, and of course, his clothes. He had to at least be a noble.

"No, please. You didn't disturb me in any way… I just wanted to know who you were. I ride down this road every day, you see, yet I never see anyone else." The man flashed her a charming smile, making her blush deeply.

"I only get to ride two to three times a month… and at various times of the day, so it's very possible that we just don't go at the same time." Ella looked him over, biting her lip softly.

He nodded slowly as he listened to her, "What do they call you?" He asked with another slight grin.

Ella shook her head shyly, looking away from him again, "Never mind what they call me."

A small frown adorned the man's features, his eyebrows knitting together in worry, "I'm sorry."

She laughed a little, trying to lighten the mood, "It's not your doing." Her horse shifted slightly, catching her off guard. Tightening her grip on the reins, she looks back up at the man.

The man didn't laugh with her, making her slightly uncomfortable, "Nor yours either, I bet." Running his fingers through his hair, his heart sighed as he watched the beautiful maiden before him.

The clock chimed five thirty, making Ella aware that she had to hurry home to begin helping her stepfamily get ready for the ball that night, "Give me your name so I can find you again." She smiled.

"I'm merely a palace employee. My name is Kit." The man smiled kindly, "Do you have to go so soon?"

She nodded shyly, "I'm afraid so."

Kit nodded sadly, obviously very disappointed, "I hope to see you again, miss."

Unable to help herself Ella smiled right back at him, much more confident than before, "And I, you."

Giving each other one last nod, they rode off in different directions, back to their very different ways of life, completely unaware of the impact they had just made on the lives of the other.