Chapter Six: Glass Slippers and Magic Wands
Bloom watched as her former headmistress wandered around her cottage, observing everything and smiling at little embellishments of flowers and hand made things, while Bloom stood at her front door with her back to the wooden surface, her eyed wide open. Holy crap...its Miss F! She...she's here. Is she really my grandmother here or just a friendly neighbour? And is she really a fairy god mother? I wonder if she has wings...
"Red dear, why don't you break out the ginger biscuits and we can have a chat about your friend next door" Miss F asked as she sat herself gently into one of the wooden stools. Bloom nodded silently and hurried over to her small pantry to find the ginger cookies she didn't know exist, behind her Miss Faragonda laughed "Oh no darling, they're in the tin above the fire place" The older woman snapped her fingers and the brown tin that sat on the mantle floated effortlessly over to her waiting hand. Bloom watched this with speculative eyes.
"You can do magic" Bloom breathed as she watched the woman nibble.
"Of course, what kind of fairy god mother would I be if I couldn't do a little magic?" Bloom sat down slowly into the opposite wooden stool and watched the woman carefully "Have you always had magic? Can everyone do magic? Is it really that simple? Can I? Are you here to help me? Can you help me?"
"Slow down girl!" Miss F rested a hand atop Blooms "Don't fret. I'll help you. Although I don't know why you're so curious, you've known I had magic for years. We've never really spoken about it fully because you weren't really interested but I was glad we became closer...after the incident"
"Incident? You mean the wolf killing my parents?" Bloom asked bluntly.
Miss F looked sympathetic "I know it still hurts you but you must remember what I said: Don't go looking for the wolf. You don't want to get involved in that mess. It's too dangerous for a girl with no magic" Bloom thought about her powers, she hadn't really used them but she was sure they were still there. Miss F smiled and brushed away the crumbs "Now! We have a girl next door to help but first..." Miss F stood up and smiled down at the wary Bloom "We need to get you ready for the ball"
Bloom sat still for a whole minute until she spoke carefully "Are you sure you aren't confusing me with Cinderella?"
Miss F laughed and pulled Bloom to her feet, surprisingly strong for an elderly woman "As soon as I heard about the ball I knew you would need to go and I knew you wanted your friend to go aswell, so I'm here to help. Just like a granny should"
"How did you know I needed help?" Bloom asked cautiously, trying to assess whether she really wanted to go to the ball, all she really wanted was for Stella to go.
Miss F turned to her and winked "I'm a fairy god mother Red, I know things" With that she smiled and produced a long silver wand out from her pockets, it glistened and glittered in the setting sun coming through the window. Bloom knew the thing was powerful just by looking at it, Miss Faragonda considered Bloom for a long moment before swing the wand in a wide ark and hitting her with a magical blast. Bloom felt the air around her turn warm and inviting, like feathers floating across her skin. When the smoke cleared she looked down at the dress she wore, satin and silky to the touch. The gown was strapless and plum coloured, it sparkled when she moved and the skirt flared out from her hips. Black gloves came up to past her elbows and Bloom felt her hair was piled up on her head. For the first time she got here she felt glamorous, she looked up at Miss F with a smile "What? No Bibbity Bobbity Boo?"
Miss F dropped the wand to her side and gave Bloom a slightly annoyed look "What the devil is Bibbity Bobbity Boo? Don't you like the dress?"
Bloom shook her head "Oh no, I love it!" Bloom did a twirl and was satisfied when the dress stayed in place. When she stopped spinning she lifted the skirt slightly and looked down at her feet "Oh good" No glass slippers "Thank you Granny, really"
Miss F smiled and patted the girls shoulder "You deserve it Red dear, you need a little happiness in your life" Miss F turned toward the door "But now there's the matter of your friend, why does she need to go to the ball?"
"She looks like a servant but she's really a lady enslaved by her evil step mother and step sister. The queen wants to marry the prince off to the step sister Chimera but we can't let that happen because the prince is Cinderella's soul mate, they're the ones that belong together!" Bloom had worked herself up and she began pacing back and forth, something she had realised she did when she was really stressed "They just go together, he's kind of a ladies' man but she's also a total flirt so they balance it out. He may be a prince but he will love her enough to look past the whole servant thing, they're meant to be!" Bloom knew she was describing two different people when it came to Stella and Cinderella; she had to keep reminding herself that she should call her Cinderella. Miss F came forward and placed a hand on Bloom's shoulder "Alright, alright. We'll get this girl to the ball, I'll help you but once you're there, you're on your own. And there are rules" She warned sternly.
Bloom nodded, knowing exactly what the rules would be. Miss F picked up one last ginger biscuit before heading to the door and walking out of it saying "Then come along dear!"
Bloom hurried after her, trying not to trip over her huge skirt, she hobbled out the front door and after Miss F who was making her way down the street and up the path of Countess Cassandra's residence. Stella was no longer on the front steps but in the back yard, kneeing in the dirty pumpkin patch with a basket and blade in hand. She looked up surprised as the two women entered her back yard, Miss F smiled as she approached while Bloom hung back with a curious expression. Stella stood up hurriedly as they stopped a few feet from her "Bloom, what's going on? What's with the dress?"
Bloom smiled at her reassuringly "Oh nothing really. I just wanted you to meet my...granny" Bloom gestured to Miss F who nodded and shook Stella's hand "Lovely to meet a friend of my...granddaughters" Behind her Bloom rolled her eyes while Miss F kept talking "You can call me fairy god mother, or if you prefer, granny"
Stella inclined her head curiously, glancing at the smartly dressed woman in purple "Umm, I'm sorry I don't know what you're saying? Fairy god mother?"
"Yeah" Bloom said as she walked forward toward Stella "Listen, she's my granny but she's really here to help you"
"Me? Why?"
"To get you to the ball, of course!" Miss F replied as she withdrew a silver wand from the pockets of her sleeve, Stella's eyes widened and she literally took a step back and fixed her gaze on Bloom "The ball?! What...why would I...I'm not invited!"
Bloom snorted with her arms crossed "You certainly are, you're a lady of noble blood. That means you're invited and a candidate for being queen"
Stella gasped and had to clutch onto the fence of the pumpkin patch to stay upright "Queen? What are you saying? I can't be queen, look at me! I'm dirty and I'm common and I'm a servant! Why are you doing this?!"
Bloom sighed and gripped Stella's shoulders to stop the girls panicking "Because I know for a fact that you and the prince are meant to be and if you go to that ball tonight you will fall in love with him, he's your true love. And you aren't just some servant, Cinderella. You are so much more than that. Now are you really going to let Chimera steal your love and take your throne for herself or...are you going to go to that ball and claim what's rightfully yours?"
Stella was quiet for a long moment before chuckling and whispering to herself "Oh this is insane"
Bloom nodded and smiled "Definitely"
"Excuse me girls?" Miss F piped up from where she was leaning against the fence "But we're already late for the ball and if we don't get there soon this step sister will already have succeeded, shall we?" Stella nodded and stepped forward. She was dressed in a light brown skirt that reached her shins and a black top that stopped just past her elbow with a white apron tied around her small waist. She looked tired and muddy with little beads of sweat forming on her brow but the light in her eyes was a mirror into how much she could be. Miss F waved her wand dramatically and a purplish smoke enveloped Stella, when the smoke cleared the princess Bloom remembered stood before them. Her golden hair was piled up on her head with tendrils of curled hair hanging down her shoulders. The dress was floor length with a wide skirt, small sleeves that barely went past her shoulders and intricate stitching into the fabric, it seemed to shine like the sun with little crystals of glitter imbedded into it, jewels hung from her ears and neck, white lace gloves went up her arms.
There was just one thing...
"It's gold?!" Bloom exclaimed, unable to believe her eyes. She blinked to try and change the image but it didn't work. The dress was gold, with white crystals. Not ice blue but sunshine coloured gold "It...It's..."
"Perfect!" Stella whispered as she twirled around in an elegant circle, when she turned to face them she was smiling. Bloom whispered to Miss F "Really granny, gold?"
Miss F shrugged a shoulder "I had some spare, I did a favour for some mice a while back and they gave me bundles and bundles of gold thread. It seemed to match her" It's true, gold did look better on Stella. She was so happy that she hugged Miss F and laughed "Oh thank you! Thank you god mother! I won't forget this!"
"I should certainly hope not! But dear..." Miss gave Stella a stern look "...there are rules. You must do exactly as I say or you'll have some trouble later on" Stella looked solemn and serious "Rule one: You can't tell anyone I've helped you. There are some folks in the village who are a little...cross with me"
"Why?" Bloom asked curiously.
Miss F looked annoyed "Oh I may have scared some little children when they came to my house, as if throwing fire balls at trespassers is a crime!"
"What kind of house?" Bloom was now dreading the answer.
"Cottage made of candy" Miss F answered nonchalantly while Bloom started to feel a splitting head ache come on. Miss F turned back to a silent Stella "Now Rule number two: Be back before midnight, there is a wolf out there and I'd rather you were home safe" Stella and Bloom nodded "And three: Whatever...WHATEVER...happens don't talk to the king or queen"
"Why not?" Bloom asked, feeling a little annoyed that she wouldn't get to meet queen Icy. Miss F shot her a glare "Because I said so!"
Bloom rolled her eyes again and tried to look uncaring. Stella cleared her throat and spoke softly "Okay but umm...how do we get there. We only had one carriage and my step mother took it to the ball with her"
"Oh don't worry about that!" Miss F laughed and walked away a few steps over to the fence "We'll wing it!" She picked up a boom from its leaning place and held it out to the two girls "Get on" She ordered seriously.
Bloom and Stella both stared at the broom with equal expressions of horror "It's a broom!" Bloom exclaimed as Stella shook her head next to her "We'll never be able to ride that in these big dresses.
"Oh!" Miss F groaned aggravated "Just do it! You won't fall off, magic has its ways" She shook the broom a little and waited. Bloom took the broom grudgingly and mumbled "I would've preferred the pumpkin" Both girls (Somehow) managed to get themselves seated on the broom together and held on for dear life while Miss F stood off to the left and smiled happily. Once on she shot out her wand and the two girls zoomed off into the night, screaming in terror.
"Have fun!" Miss F yelled after them.
...
Flora sat quietly in her chair, staring blankly at her reflection. Her maids whirled around her, brushing, plucking and primping the princess until she felt like a silky pretty pin cushion. Flora had never attended a ball so grand before and the queen had ordered both her and Brandon to look their absolute best tonight. Fireworks could be heard outside the window while she could faintly hear the chattering of the hundreds of guests downstairs, even from her room. Butterflies crowded her stomach as she nervously looked back at her reflection, filled with pink satin and flowers; she tried not to think about how much people would be judging her tonight.
The door opened and in marched a handsome looking Brandon in a navy blue and silver suit with army style jacket and sword. He looked as nervous as she felt but he hid it pretty well, without a word he gestured for the servants to leave. Once out he sagged in relief and flopped down onto the bed with a groan "You wouldn't believe what I'm going through right now!"
Flora smiled as she applied perfume to her wrists and neck "You look nice, though"
Brandon stuck his head up with a sour expression "You look like a pink cupcake"
Flora shot him a murderous glare in the mirror "Well you look like a prince whose about to make a huge life decision, it could affect him for the rest of his life. It's major, gigantic, LIFE CHANGING! Once you pick there's no going back, no exchanges, you'll be stuck with the same wife for the rest of your ye-" A pillow was thrown in her face. Flora laughed as she chucked it back and stood up to go and stand over her 'brother' and smile "You'll be fine. What are you so afraid of?"
Brandon closed his eyes and threw an arm over his face "Everything you just said! It's forever! One girl for all time! What if she's not what I think she is when I first meet her and once we're married she turns into this completely different person. Aurora help me!"
Flora sighed and crossed her arms "Just...go with your heart. It'll know who's good and whose bad, you won't pick the wrong girl. Just be happy that you get to pick her at all, I hear our father wants to pick my husband and it's not gonna be good" Flora looked out the window with dread "This'll probably be my last birthday where I'm single. Free. Happy"
Brandon stood up and took her hand gently "The king would never do that. I won't let him! You just...enjoy tonight, don't be nervous and maybe leave all the worrying to me"
Flora smiled and gave him a quick peck on the check "You're right. Fine, it's all on you. Now out!" She pushed him toward the door "The guests are arriving and you have to start weeding out the rotten eggs from the good ones"
Brandon smiled as he opened the door, he paused and poked his head back inside to smile at his sister "By the way, happy birthday" Flora smiled a fake smile as the door shut to her room. As she turned back to her room she was startled to find Queen Icy sitting on her bed. Flora jumped in fright and stumbled back a step, she hadn't heard the woman come in or even how she managed it. The window, maybe? The queen looked positively glowing in her black dress that shined when she moved, all her white hair curled and loose around her hips, she smiled a sweet smile "Well don't you look beautiful, dear! That dress is so lovely and pink, sweet...like you"
Flora felt uncomfortable being complimented by the queen, it had never happened before. She kept speaking as she rose from the bed and walked toward her "You'll have to be extra careful about ripping anything when you dance or move. An accident like that in front of everyone could be...well...embarrassing" Flora gulped at the thought "but be not afraid, I've brought in a seamstress in case an lady or man need stitching to keep themselves decent. Just let me know if she's needed and I'll send you up to her, won't you?"
Flora thought it strange how Queen Icy would be so focused on just one woman, she didn't usually give this much attention to any servant. Flora nodded and smiled a fake smile for the queen, wishing beyond anything else that she wouldn't make a big mistake tonight.
...
Brandon peeked between a slit in the tall red curtain that separated him from hundreds of guests, he scanned the crowd nervously as he tried to decide how he was ever going to find the right girl for him.
"You know..." Brandon stood up straight into a standing position and glared at his squire who was smiling at the whole situation behind him "...if all those girls could see you now, I'd be happy for the rest for my days. Look at you! You're a quivering mess!"
Sky leaned against the wall with his arms crossed "Seriously man, the rest of my days"
Brandon shot him a murderous look but smiled anyway "Those days will be numbered if I have my way. Where have you been all day? I was looking for you, I need my wingman to help me, there's no way I'm going to get through all these girls without your...helpful...advice"
Sky laughed and then ducked into a low bow "My apologise your majesty but I was busy rescuing a damsel in distress"
"A damsel?!" Brandon exclaimed, shocked "Since when have you ever been in the business of saving beautiful ladies from danger?"
"Since today. I haven't been able to do it before because I've always been busy saving your ass from the fire!" Sky walked away with a smile and Brandon hurried after his friend. He gave him a friendly punch in the arm "But seriously, what happened?"
Sky got a secret smile on his face and looked at the floor as he walked "I don't know. I was doing a job and suddenly...she was just there. Being stalked by the wolf no less"
Brandon raised his eyebrows at this. The wolf had terrorised his country for years, it was not an animal to trifle with. Sky continued "But I guess I saved her. I took her home and made sure she was safe. To be fair she was in shock and not really conscious for most of our meeting but those minutes when we did talk...I just got this feeling from her. She was...special"
Brandon felt a small prick of sadness in the pit of his stomach at the conversation but put on a smile and slapped his friend on the back "Well good luck to you man. At least one of us can have a good girlfriend who actually likes you for you"
Sky gave his master a sympathetic look "You'll find the right girl. You have too; I don't want to have to spend the next few years protecting you from your own wife!"
...
"Oh my god, what if my step mother sees me? What is she going to think? What is she going to DO?! This was a terrible idea! Why did I do this? I can't marry a prince! I'm a servant; can we turn this thing around? Please! I don't want to spend the rest of my life in my room, locked away just sewing for the rest of my life. Because that what is gonna happen to me if my family recognise me!"
Bloom was ready to slap Stella upside the head. She had been rambling for ages as they flew through the air toward the castle, it was even more annoying that Stella's head was right next to hers so there was so ignoring her. The REAL Stella would never be this nervous about a party, she would have been sprinting for the castle on the ground and she would have beat the flying broom to the party if she was inclined.
"I mean it's not that I don't want to meet my true love and all but really? The prince! No no no! We have to turn around, move the broom to the left or something! No the other way! Are you listening to me?!"
Bloom spoke with clenched teeth "You're back seat driving! Buzz off! You're meeting the prince and that's that. No more of this nervous crap, you're a princess on the inside and you'll be a great queen. Stop fussing!"
Stella was silent for a long time and Bloom almost thought she had upset her when she heard the girl laugh and hug her from behind "Thanks Bloom, you're a real friend"
...
The two girls walked up the steps toward the castle, red carpet under them; candles above them flowers surrounded them from all sides. The scent and feeling was intoxicating and made them feel light headed (That is, if the broom ride hadn't already done the trick) and giddy with happiness. Hiking there heavy skirts up the steps the girl looked at all the wonderful spectacles going on all around them. It wasn't until they bumped into a wall of people did they realize that they were even inside. Stella gripped Bloom's and shyly with her head down and shoulders up while Bloom had her head craning to see if she could spot a way into the main hall, seeing a huge door off to the left she steered Stella through the richly dressed people. They noticed that a lot of the people moved out of their way to let them pass, envy and adoration in their eyes.
"Why are they staring at us?" Stella whispered to Bloom as they moved quickly toward the door. Bloom shrugged a shoulder "Don't know. I guess they think we're royalty or just very pretty"
"Pretty? No one's ever called me that before" Stella mumbled as they entered the main hall and gasped at the sight. If it was possible, even more candles and flowers were hung and draped everywhere! Couples danced and people ate from the many buffets, entertainers floated in the air while juggling and many of the guests were just happy to watch the long line of ladies slowly move as they all waited for the chance to meet the prince. Stella looked all the way along the line with dread but that dread soon increased to terror when she looked and saw all the way across the HUGE hall at the small staging area where two thrones were placed and two brightly dressed people were sitting with two other people standing close by.
Stella pause before trying to rip herself away from Bloom and run for the exit but the girl already had her in a death grip by the arm and was dragging her toward the end of the line "Cinderella! You know this has to be! He's your soul mate for god's sake! Have some faith in yourself; I don't want to have to drag you the whole way, please!"
Stella stopped struggling when they got into place and she saw just how long the line was, they would be waiting for hours at least "But...what if he doesn't like me?" She whispered to Bloom who smiled at her. Bloom turned to a waiter and plucked a red drink from the tray and handed it to her "Drink this and relax. I'm gonna go get you some crackers or something" Bloom walked off to leave Stella fretting and fidgeting nervously. Looking at the other women in the line who she was sure were so much more beautiful than her, she could barely make her feet move as the line edged toward the front.
Bloom walked casually through the crowd, some people moving to let her through, she reached the buffet table and looked in curiosity at all the strange looking magical things laid out for her. She was in the middle of poking at a green looking goo when she happened to glance up at the walls of the hall and see a balcony, a figure clad in a black dress with silver hair stood looking down on the party with a scowl and Bloom almost changed into her Winx form at the sight of her. Icy...or to be precise Queen Icy. Bloom seriously didn't want to deal with her right now, not when she was busy trying to get Stella and Brandon together. Sighing heavily she walked quickly back to Stella and gave her hand a friendly squeeze as the girl literally shook with nerves.
...
The girls were starting to blur together and Brandon was having trouble not groaning where he sat. He was perched in a shiny gold throne with Flora in her own one next to him; she had kept on a friendly smile for all the girls for the last few hours and never seemed to waver. Sky stood just next to him with a serious look on his face, ready to pounce if anyone got too close. It was in moment like this that Brandon thought he seemed like a guard than a squire. An elderly man stood with his back to Brandon just a few metres in front of him with a long scroll in his hands that served as magic paper, showing the name of the lady who stood in front of him and if she was noble or not. Funnily some girls had actually been pretending to be noble to get a chance at Brandon and he had found that really...sad. He sighed heavily as another shinning girl came forward and bowed to him, smiling brightly. He smiled and tipped his head, the rule was that if he liked what he saw he could have a dance with her. He found that rule to be incredibly unfair, as if the girl had to be beautiful just too speak to him properly.
Sky leaned over and whispered to his friend "How you doing over there?"
Brandon smiled and leaned over "Three hours! I've been at this for THREE HOURS!" he whispered to his squire, a slight desperation in his voice. Sky smiled as Flora leaned over as well "Does the little prince need a break from all the pretty girls?" Brandon's sharp intake of breath told her that the sarcasm was not welcome "Okay okay, I'm sorry. Five minutes? Then you can take a break"
Brandon nodded as he laid his head in his hand, trying to think clearly.
...
"What's going on?" Stella asked as the line started moving slower, beside her Bloom looked toward the front. They were only a couple of girl away from meeting the prince and it seemed that none of the girls had impressed him too much "Don't know. I guess we're just slowing down a little"
Stella nodded hastily "Good, that's good. It gives me more time to prepare"
"You don't need to prepare, you're ready" Bloom said as she settled back at her friend's side. The few girls got there turn and were sent back looking disappointed and dejected some even in tears. Stella felt a panic settle into her stomach and her feet would move no more, the last girl walked away and suddenly there was nothing separating her from the rich prince she had heard about since she was little; she couldn't even bring herself to look up at him. Her eyes were fixed on the ground in front of her and she was frozen, Bloom at her side didn't show any surprise at seeing Brandon as Prince. What she didn't expect was that Sky was beside him, as his squire.
Okay...should have seen that one coming but...damn! He looked so handsome and surprised to see her that she froze as well. A heavy moment passed as the two girls stood frozen to the floor that in the end Stella just stepped back and turned away, walking back into the crowd. Bloom thawed out too late to grab her and yelled after her "Hey Stella! I mean...Cinderella, come back! Cindy! Oh shit!" She swore under her breath and briefly turned back to the royal party who were staring at her curiously that she turned and ran away too.
Brandon looked after the blond girl with intense wonder from a brief moment of glimpsing the most beautiful creature he had ever seen, and he had just seen most of the girls in the kingdom. But the feeling soon past as she disappeared, he stood up and sighed "Now she's got the right idea, I need some air" With that he stalked back into a side room and out onto a long balcony that stretched all the way around the kingdom, he expected Sky to follow him but he was strangely absent.
...
Sky walked quickly after the red headed girl called Bloom through the crowd as she searched frantically for her friend. Bloom swore again under her breath as she didn't see the blond girl anywhere. Son of a bitch! We were so close, why does Cinderella have to be such a pushover! Turning back she ran into the tall hard chest of the princes squire, Bloom gasped and stepped back. Sky smiled down at Bloom while the girl blushed furiously and asked "What are you doing here?"
Sky shrugged "I'm the prince's squire; It's my job to be here"
Bloom nodded and smiled back "I umm...never got a chance to thank you for saving me from the wolf. That was really brave"
"Well I was in the area" Trying to kill an innocent girl "I'm just glad you're okay" Bloom didn't miss the tingling in her stomach as he spoke, even if it had been only a couple of days she had missed him intensely, she wanted nothing more than to leap into his arms but right now... "Sorry but I have someone I need to find!" Bloom turned and pushed through the crowd.
Stella burst out into one of the inner corridors where there were almost no people, she had no idea where she was going but she just knew that she needed to not be here. Oh my god, I totally freaked out in front of a prince, I didn't even get to see him. Hell! I don't deserve to see him; I'm a servant, nothing more! She found a door that led out to a long balcony, the cold night air brushed over her as she breathed heavily, tears of humiliation forming in her eyes. Gripped the banister she leaned her head downward and tried to block out the whole experience.
"Are you okay?" A voice behind her asked gently.
Stella whirled around to see a man beside her, tall with brown hair illuminated by the light from the windows. He was handsome and looking at her with concern (AKA Brandon, but she didn't know that). Stella sniffed and smiled a sad smiled "Glass slippers, don't ever wear them to a ball. My feet are killing me!" She looked back at the view, the whole kingdom stretched out before her, another tear rolling down her cheek.
Brandon recognised the blond beauty from before but didn't say anything except "You're crying"
Stella nodded and whipped away a tear "I just made a total fool out of myself. I let myself get dragged out here to the castle to meet some prince just because I'm a noble and may have a chance at the crown, as if I deserve it. I got there and all I had to do was smile and bow but I couldn't even do that because I know that he could never like someone like me"
Brandon was shocked but asked anyway "Someone like you?"
Stella chuckled and turned to look at him with a sad expression "Everyday, that prince eats the best food, drinks the richest wine, speaks to the most powerful people in the realm and sleeps in the finest bed. Me? I eat gruel that could turn any stomach; I drink water that I have to pump out of the ground myself, the only people I talk too are my step mother and the pig I have to feed and when I go to sleep at night, it's on a wooden frame filled with potato sacks. So I ask you sir, how could a wealthy prince like that ever in any reality go for a dirty servant girl like me who was lucky enough to be born with 'special' blood?"
Brandon looked at the girl for a long time with a wondrous expression "Maybe if he met you he'd see that you didn't care about the title...but maybe you cared for him and perhaps he could care for you because you're not like other stuck up girls"
Stella sniffed as the tears began to slow "How could I care for someone I can't even look in the eye?"
Brandon smiled and shrugged his arms, his smile made Stella smile and chuckle "Thank you for making sure I'm okay"
Brandon shrugged and leaned against the railing "You look like you needed a friend; I came out here to get away from all those people. Haven't gotten used to big parties yet"
Stella laughed and nodded "Me too, I've never been to such a big party before, I feel so crowded" Stella turned and held out her hand to the tall man "I'm Cinderella" Brandon smiled and took her hand to place a light kiss on the back of it; Stella smiled as she blushed furiously. Looking out into the air she really looked at the view, gasping "See there..." She pointed to a small orange light out in the distance "...That's my house. We have this huge pumpkin patch in the back yard, it goes on for ages and it's my job to take care of it. I've found out that it gives off a very funny orange light at night, funny huh?"
"Well, at least you can always find your way home" The two of them stood side by side at the railing, gazing out over the city.
"Where's your house?" Stella asked curiously.
"Umm" Brandon hesitated and smiled "Close by. But mine gives off a golden light, a VERY BIG GOLDEN LIGHT" Brandon sighed as he looked up at the ceiling, wishing to every god that he wasn't a prince at this moment and he didn't have to tell her that he is and watch her freak out and go all 'yes your majesty' and 'of course your majesty' Wouldn't it be great if I could tell her I was the princes squire and that Sky was the prince, give me a chance to get to know her as me.
Stella sighed again and stepped away from the railing "Well, I'm gonna go find my friend and go home. There's really no point to staying" She turned to walk away but Brandon caught her hand "Wait Cinderella!" Stella turned with a curious expression; Brandon stood and looked kind of nervous for a moment "You're beautiful" Stella blinked as shock set in "What?"
Brandon took a huge breath and spoke confidently "Can I just say...you are one of the most beautiful girls I've ever met, and believe me I've met a lot of girls tonight but none of them came as close to you. And it's not just your face but...you have this peace...this beauty on the inside. I've met other nobles and I know that they're all stuck up and they think that they're better than everyone. They seek only their own gratification but you...you're right you're not a real noble...you are so much better than them. I've spoken maybe a handful of words to you but yet every time you say something...you just enrapture me. I could listen to you talk for years" Stella stood frozen to the spot for ages, simply staring at the beautiful stranger for a long time. He came forward and took her hand "I can't explain it but I feel like I know you..."
Stella felt her whole soul lift and sore at his words, felt her heart speed up as she stared up at the only man who had ever told her she was beautiful. She realised she was standing incredibly close to him and didn't mind at all, it felt right. She listened to him and felt like he was speaking for her, knowing what she thought of him and saying it back to her. She felt herself lean in slightly to feel the warmth he gave off, she just wanted to be that bit closer to him...
...
Bloom groaned and leaned against the wall as Sky stood next to her; both feeling defeated and like utter failures "How can we lose one girl? It's ridiculous!"
Sky sighed and smiled at Bloom "Sorry, we'll keep looking. I'm sure she'll turn up"
Bloom turned her face toward him "Aren't you supposed to be a hunter or something? And yet you can't find one girl?"
Sky chuckled "No sorry, this jungle is just a bit too much for me"
Bloom laughed and looked toward the ceiling, smiling when suddenly her face went cold and shock set in. Walking toward them was Flora in her pink dress and a small smile on her face, she reached them and Sky bowed "Sky, do you know where my brother is? I haven't seen him since he went out to get some air"
Sky raised an eyebrow and spoke formally "I'll go see if I can find him"
Flora nodded and smiled at Bloom "Hello, I'm Aurora. Welcome to the castle"
Bloom shook her head and smiled "Umm yes hello your majesty. Thank you. This is a lovely party and can I just say...happy birthday" Aurora, freaking Aurora! Flora is sleep freaking beauty, what the hell am I going to do?! I can't even get Stella and Brandon together, who knows where Helia is in this world! GODDAMNIT!