So Ariel began: "Cinderella, you are not what you think you are, nor is your family truly yours. Soon after you were born, your true parents died, and you were switched with a human child who would not live. Your human parents did not know the switch was made and so raised you as their own, a miracle child, just as they would have if you truly were theirs. But as time went on, you felt the difference, didn't you? You knew you didn't belong among men. But not knowing where you did belong, you remained and became what you are today: a self-proclaimed outcast who doesn't believe in herself. But this can change. It must change, and soon; because if it doesn't your gift will remain crippled for life."

"But what is my gift?" Cinderella exclaimed at last. "You have yet to tell me who I am."

"Or what," Eric added.

"You're a fairy," Ariel said simply. "A Fairy of the Hollow."

A strange look came over Eric's face. "The Hollow?" he asked. "But I thought they were all killed out."

"Killed?" Ariel asked. "Where did you learn of this?"

Eric was surprised. "I don't know," he admitted. "I didn't even know I knew it." Ariel looked worried.

Jim looked around. "There's big magic at work here. I can feel it."

"Eric," Ariel asked worried, "are you yourself?"

Eric looked offended. "Of course I'm myself. Who else would I be?"

"And you're in complete control of yourself?" Ariel pushed gently.

"Of course I can control myself," Eric snapped. "I don't need anyone telling me what to do or say."

Aladdin looked puzzled. "No one told you to do or say anything."

Eric became confused, and grew quiet.

"Are you sure you're all right?" Ariel asked him.

"I'm fine," Eric answered quickly, but he didn't feel so sure.

Everyone else looked at each other, worried, but decided not to persue the matter.

After talking for a while, it was decided that Jim would guard the forest alone that night; it would be a full moon, when he was most alert, and unable to control his change. That way, the others in the forest could sleep. (They had been watching over the forest for several nights now, and desperately needed rest.)

Since Aladdin would be around her every day anyway, it was decided that he would help Cinderella discover her gift better. Eric, with his genius level IQ, was in charge of finding out all he could about the company trying to destroy the forest, and hopefully come up with some sort of loophole to stop them.

As Aladdin was walking her home, Cinderella asked him, "What kind of 'gift' is being a fairy, anyway? I mean, what kind of special talents do I have?"

"I'm not exactly sure," he admitted. "You'll have to find that out yourself. But I do know one special thing that comes with it."

Cinderella looked at him. "What?" she asked.

He smiled. "Beauty."

"What are you talking about?" she objected. "I'm the most plain-looking girl I know."

Aladdin stopped and took her hand gently. "No you're not. Listen, you saw Pocahontas and Kida?"

Cinderella sighed. "I wish I could be half as pretty as they are."

"You are," Aladdin told her, looking into her eyes. "And more. You just don't see it yet. But those who see you for who you are, they see it. And one day you'll see it too."

When she walked in the door, Sarah greeted her. "Supper's ready. Did you have a good day, sweetheart?"

"Very different, but not too bad," Cinderella answered as she sat at the table.

"Did you make some new friends?" Maurice asked as they started to eat.

Cinderella smiled. "You know what, I think I did."

That night, in bed, Cinderella thought about what Aladdin had said. And then, out of nowhere, she heard those same words in her head, in a much different voice, like a memory long forgotten. Had someone said those words to her before, and if so, who? Her parents, her real parents? Or someone she had never known? The thought troubled her, and she lay awake for a long time, wondering.