"Here you are, ma'am." The male voice drifted through her hazy mind, waking Felicity from yet another sleep. Or maybe they really were blackouts, because Felicity had no memory of things changing in between. Her breathing was difficult and as she gained her bearings, Felicity realized that it was probably because of the corset dress she was wearing.

"What the…?" She started to question what was going on and then just sighed and sat back for a moment. "Just go with it, Smoak." Of course, she was Cinderella and she was ready for the Ball. Sitting forward, she peered out of the open carriage door and saw a gloved hand waiting to take her, also gloved, hand. Felicity took a quick moment to glance down and then cringed. "Freaking Disney!" She was not just in some sort of odd Cinderella story, no, Felicity realized, she was in the Disney Cinderella remake. Her white-blue dress was identical to that of Cinderella. The hand took hold of hers and almost pulled her, somehow graciously, out of the horse-drawn carriage. "Roy?"

"I got you here safely. But once you're in there, you're on your own."

"Thank you?" she asked hesitantly.

He rushed forward and crushed her in his arms, forcing what little air the corset allowed from her lungs as he hugged her. It felt as if his life was depending on it, unfortunately her life was dependent on the air he was squeezing from her. "Roy!" she managed to squeak out and he released her.

Feeling him move away from her, she missed his warmth, but her eyes were closed as she continued to struggle for breath. Suddenly she came over all hot, with one hand Felicity began to fan her face, with the other she almost clawed at her dress trying to get space for her lungs. She turned around, seeking help as she heard the clip clop of horses' feet moving her carriage with Roy away from her. And suddenly she could breathe again.

"Where am I?" she whispered, no longer outside. She was surrounded by men in sharp suits and women in ball gowns and there was music playing. The people were all dancing, and then there was a hand in hers, leading into the crowd of dancers slightly further.

"You are about to dance with the Prince."

"Oliver?" He looked at her quizzically. "Sorry, Prince, thank you." All she could do was play along as one hand wrapped around her waist, the other took her hand and he began to lead them in a dance. Of course he would be the Prince, she thought. Oliver was the one who was always saving her, so of course in, whatever this was, he would be the hero. Diggle was his right hand man just as the Grand Duke was the Prince's. It still did not explain everyone else, but Felicity felt herself relax the tiniest bit at those two constants. Being in Oliver's, or the Prince's arms, probably helped with the relaxing.

"You are the most beautiful lady here tonight." She blushed. "Have I met you before?"

"Maybe. In another life."

They looked at each other and she found herself captivated by the magic in his eyes.

"This ball has been thrown for me to find my Queen. I think I have."

He started to move closer to her, his body pressing up completely against her that she swore she could feel the heat of him through the many layers of her dress. She tried to take a deep breath and control herself, but the corset was too tight. Then his lips were on hers, innocently for a moment until he pulled her even closer and they merged into one. This could not be the real Oliver, Felicity decided. If there was something at work with all of them, drugs for example, Oliver's body would have been the strongest to resist. Perhaps he was just playing along as she was. No, Felicity realized sadly, he would not kiss her this passionately as part of a ruse.

The hand holding hers dropped it unceremoniously and found its way to the back of her neck, bringing and holding her closer than she could have imagined. As a sigh managed to escape her lips, she felt him smile and then she was aware that they were in silence.

It was her that broke the kiss and pulled back. "I can't do this." I don't know what's going on. "I'm sorry." Really I am, so sorry. "I have to go." She turned and then paused as she heard a bell chime. "What time is it?" she whispered with her back still to him.

"Midnight."

She started to move again. Felicity may not have had any idea of what was going on, but she knew the story. She may not remember anything before the bed of straw, but she remembered Cinderella's story, she remembered the Fairy Godmother's warning.

Chime. The second one.

"Wait!" Oliver the Prince called to her.

Chime. The third.

"Don't leave like this!"

Chime. The fourth.

She stumbled and fell, hitting her knee hard on the cold concrete.

Chime. The fifth.

"You're hurt."

Chime. The sixth.

She got back to her feet, refusing to look behind her.

Chime. The seventh.

She could see the red starting to soak through the dress.

Chime. The eighth.

"You're bleeding!"

Chime. The ninth.

"Don't leave me!"

Chime. The tenth.

"Don't give up now, Felicity."

She turned at her name on his lips. Not Cinderella, not Cinders, but Felicity. "Oliver?" she whispered.

Chime. The eleventh.

The corset tightened and she struggled for air. Felicity looked down and saw her dress was red now. Her eyes closed as chime. The final.