Disclaimer: Disney owns Cinderella and the secret to spinning and turning your dress into something amazing, wish I could do that.

Here is where the original fairy tale The Three Feathers comes into play.

I had fun with this chapter, and I won't be posting for a bit longer since life has gotten busy so I hope this will tide you over until the next chapter.

Again, let me know about the ball: challenge or celebration?

Please review, I will need some good news (or ways to improve) in the next few days.

Kit and his two brothers stood yet again in front of the king's raised dais in the castle courtyard while the herald blew his trumpet.

'He certainly had a lot of practice lately', Kit thought wryly.

It was time for another challenge. All the boys knew their father's health was getting steadily worse and he would have to name his heir soon.

Kane and Kurt were each hoping he'd name an heir soon (them) so they could be done with these annoying challenges.

Kane was annoyed that he even had to compete at all. It was so obvious that he was the rightful heir. Kurt would have them constantly at war and never see the true power of the court lay in games and intrigues, not weapons.

And Kit, he scoffed, Kit would ruin the kingdom with his outlandish ways and make a mockery of the crown.

Meanwhile, Kurt missed his timing in the training yard and his time at the local tavern. He had been too busy with the trials to fit in what he called initiation and training (but what others including Kit usually called bullying) with the new soldiers that didn't worship him.

Kit was simply concerned that these challenges were taking a toll on his father. At the same time, he felt that for the first time in forever, he had a chance to impress his dad, a chance to escape from his simpleton nickname, a chance to change his world and maybe even a chance to find true love, if he could ever meet that maiden from the forest again.

The court quieted down as the king stood up.

"This challenge is different, my dear sons." He smiled lovingly at his boys.
"To be a good king, Fate needs to be on your side. I have in my hand three feathers. I will release them in the air, let Fate guide them and you will each follow one of them."

The king then sat back down.

The boys eyed one another at this change and then looked back at the king.

Well, Kit did.

Kane spat at Kit's boot while Kurt stomped on the other one.

Julius tried to get the king's attention but spoke into the deaf ear by mistake.

Kane spoke up at last, "What is the challenge father?

The king looked up startled.
Julius nudged him, "Remember sire? Or should I tell them?"

The king slowly stood up again.

"The challenge is to use the kingdom's natural resources to defend yourself. Follow the feather to find a weapon. When you do, come back here and use it to defend yourself."

With that, the king tossed the three feather in the air.

The wind played with them for a bit before sending one to the east along the road, another to the west along the road and the third deep into the woods.

Kane bowed and said, "I will follow the feather to the east, father."

Kurt jumped in, "I will follow the feather to the west."

Kit just looked at the woods. This would be a challenge for sure.

Julius, seeing how the king was falling asleep, stated, "Go, complete the challenge and return here when you do."

Kane gave Kit a shove and started walking toward the east on the road.

Kurt shoved Kit again and started walking toward the west along the road.

Kit rubbed his shoulder, sighed, and started making his way to the woods.

If he had courage and was kind, perhaps Fate would be kind to him and help him find a weapon.

Kane scoffed as soon as he was out of sight of the feather.
He just wanted to find a weapon quickly and be done with it.
It wasn't like Kit could put up a fight anyhow he reasoned. Besides, Kurt had done much worse than him on every challenge. It would be easy to convince him that he'd be happier as a prince, free to enter tournaments and chase girls and live an indulgent lifestyle.

Kane walked for another five minutes before a large tree branch.

He hefted it and decided it would work as a mace. He smiled to himself and headed back toward the castle.

Perhaps he'd have time to recruit some nobles to support his bid for the crown.

Kurt frowned as he got farther away from the castle.
He'd lost sight of the feather and didn't know if he should bother to find it or not.
As his stomach growled, he decided that it was all stupid anyways.
He just needed to find something quick before he could stop in the village tavern and get a pint and a meal.
His eyes scanned the ground to try to find a smiled as he saw a rock larger than his hand.
He could throw that and cause some damage.

Kurt picked it up and headed toward the tavern, intent on some ale, leg of mutton, and maybe a wench or two.

Kit continued to follow the feather.
It had caught a nice little breeze so he was just able to keep up with it as it drew him further and further into the woods.
He had to walk for quite a ways to keep following the feather, over many hills and valleys, and he had to cross two different streams.

He had thought about giving up once but then he remembered how his friends believed in him and how he wanted to impress his father.
He then soldiered onward for his chance to show his father who he was and to make his friends proud of him.

When the sun was low in the sky, the feather at last came to a rest when it floated into a crevice in a pile of gray-black rocks. Kit crouched down to pull it out and pick up the rocks when he saw a horse lying on its side, panting heavily.

Kit then noticed that the horse had whip marks all over its back and was horrified at this form of abuse.
He felt his blood boil with anger at whoever had done this.
As the horse twitched again, Kit immediately started searching through his bag for anything that could help.

He had treated horses before and knew what to do. He pulled out a flask of water and a little jar of honey. He looked around him for any plants that might help.

Fate smiled upon him, Kit thought, as he noticed a patch of aloe growing close by.
He hurried over and picked some.

He began crushing the aloe using the gray rocks his feather was trapped in.
When the aloe was almost crushed, he pulled out his knife to scrape it into a bowl.

He slipped on some leaves on the ground and scraped his knife against the rocks as he tried to catch himself.

Immediately he saw a very bright light coming from the rocks that blinded him.
Kit hurried to finish the poultice. He then grabbed some of the rocks, smiling as he realized his luck in finding a weapon.

Kit walked over to the horse and knelt beside her.

"It's okay.' For he could see the whites of her brown eyes. "I am here to help you." Kit continued to murmur reassuringly and Cinderella quieted down.

She knew she could trust Kit to help her.

Kit gently rubbed the mixture in the horses' wounds. The horse kicked its feet but made no other sounds.

Cinderella didn't want to seem ungrateful for his help with moans of pain.

Once he was done, Kit sat back on his feet and thought about what to do next. He didn't want to leave the horse here all alone and injured. Wolves might attack her. If he could get her to stand up, she could come back and heal in the royal stables with his horse.

Kit decided to speak to the horse, after all, he had felt stronger than ever lately, like animals could understand him when he talked and he especially felt that anything could happen this deep in the woods, close to dusk, a time where it seemed that magic uncurl its tendrils and wake up.

"I'd like to take you back to the palace with me, to let you heal in peace. I could feed you oats and apples and give you more medicine there. Do you think you can stand up?" Kit's eyes were pleading, it would be the best way to keep her safe and well.

Cinderella didn't think it was a good idea to go back with him but she felt too weak to stay here alone. She wanted to be taken care of again, she wanted a safe home. The pain had stripped away her inhibitions and she was left with only her heart which longed to be with him.

All she had to do was get to her feet. Cinderella tried but fell as the pain overwhelmed her.

"It's okay girl, it's okay." Kit reassured her. "I will help you."

Cinderella tried again and this time Kit gave her more leverage to stand up. She was slowly able to get to her feet.

"That's my brave girl." Kit rubbed her face and brushed her mane out of her eyes.

Again he was struck the beautiful brown eyes and the beauty cause him to speak as if to the maiden.

"Just have courage and I will be kind to you, I will get you home to the castle." Kit vowed.

Cinderella nickered softly and pushed her nose into his hand.

Kit improvised a halter using his leather satchel and led her slowly through the forrest.

As they approached the edge of the forrest, the sun finally set.

Cinderella changed back into her human form and moaned as the pain hit her anew. She fell to the ground.

Kit jumped at the noise, it sounded so human. He had thought it was just him and the horse.

He turned to face the horse and to see why the bag felt loose, like the halter had slipped off.

He expected to see the horse a few feet back, perhaps having shaken off the bag.

Instead, he saw the maiden from the forest lying on the ground.

His joy at finding her again turned to horror as he saw her blood stained back through the tatters of her dress.

"Miss, are you alright?" Kit asked tentatively. Where had that horse gone?
And then, he thought 'Idiot, he thought, of course she's not alright.'

"What happened to you? Who did this?"

"It's not important" Cinderella said, afraid that she had been seen transforming. "Don't worry about me." She tried to get up but fell back down.

"Miss, it's me, Kit...and I am very worried." He knelt down to the ground. "May I...may I treat your wounds?" He waited, hoping she would say yes.
He would help her either way but he wanted to hear that she trusted him.

Cinderella felt her eyes fill with tears, but not from the pain in her back.
It had been so long since someone offered to help her or take care of her. She had appreciated it as a horse but now as woman, it overwhelmed her.

She nodded her head, not trusting her voice not to crack. Her brown eyes shown with tears.

Kit brought his mixture forward. "I've created a poultice to rub in the wounds. I made it when I saw the horse and used it on her...who was just there...well, never mind that now."

"Oh, the horse...yes you probably want to know about that." Cinderella sighed, the truth would have to come out.
Would he still like her if he saw her as she truly was?

"Let's wait until you're stronger." Kit insisted. The pain in her eyes was terrible to see. Those eyes should only be filled with joy, he thought to himself.

"Now, um, this has to go on your...back." Kit cursed his awkwardness, now was no time to make her more uncomfortable.

"Yes, that's fine." Cinderella wondered why he was hesitating.

"Yes, well you see I will...umm...have to lower your dress to see your back." Kit's cheeks reddened.

Cinderella blushed too. "Oh."

"I promise to be gentle." Kit added lamely.

"That's fine." Cinderella said. She raised herself up and tried to lower the sleeves.

As she started to fall, Kit leaned forward and caught her.
He then grabbed one shoulder of the dress and lowered it slowly while Cinderella turned her head away and lowered her arms to her sides.
He grabbed the other and he lowered his eyes to the ground as he pulled it down to her waist.
Cinderella laid down on the ground again and curled her arms around her sides to preserve her modesty.

Once her back was exposed, Kit dabbed a handkerchief in the remaining poultice and stared rubbing it in her wounds though it seemed like she had been treated a little over an hour ago. Her wounds were still inflamed but the skin had started to heal. He could also see a bit of shininess where it looked like some poultice had not yet been absorbed. But he had only put some on the horse? Kit's mind spun with ideas but refused to settle.

Cinderella gasped in pain, the witch had struck deep and hard with each stroke and there were many strikes for her punishment. The earlier treatment had numbed the pain for the horse but the pain as a woman was still too much.

"I'm sorry." Kit said, feeling terrible at causing her more pain. "But this will make it heal faster and should take away some of the pain." He resolved to think on the mystery later when she wasn't in so much pain.

"I'm sorry." Cinderella bit her lip, he was only trying to help her.

Kit tried to lighten the mood. "I have to say, though I wanted to see you again, miss, this wasn't how I had pictured it."

"You wanted to see me?" Her voice was so soft and unsure, that Kit felt his heart break at whatever life had done to her to blind her from her virtues.

"Yes, of course." Kit answered so sincerely with his bright blue eyes that Cinderella felt her heart flutter like hummingbird on the first day of spring.

Kit finished treating her back. It looked a little better with the blood gone and the redness fading.
Still, he knew her dress was in tatters and she needed something to wear for her own modesty and his peace of mind for even though she was wounded, his mind had noticed the graceful curve of her neck, how smooth her skin was, how her honey hair curled over her shoulder...

Kit cleared his throat and took off his doublet. "Would you like to put this on?

"Yes, thank you Mister Kit." She smiled as he laid the coat down by her side and then turned away.

After she had put on the coat, Cinderella put her hand on his shoulder "I am so grateful for your assistance. Thank you for treating my back."

Kit barely got out "I was happy to help milady." She looked so wonderful in his green doublet, like spring itself with her golden hair and warm brown eyes and pink cheeks.

"So what are you doing all the way out here in the woods?" Cinderella asked, the pain in her back had faded to a dull roar in her mind and now she could wonder how he had gotten so far from the castle to have stumbled upon her.

"I'm...supposed to find a weapon here in the woods. Fath- my master said to follow the feather and use what is showed me as a weapon in my defense." Kit frowned. "It sounds strange, I know."

Cinderella trusted that the feather landed there for a reason. Fate had to be on the side of someone like Kit.

"I found the feather in a pile of rocks so I collected a few before I treated the horse-Oh!" Kit remembered the bright light he had seen before he treated the horse.

Cinderella glanced at him, curious and a bit nervous as to what changed? Did he realize who she was?

"I know what the rocks were when the feather landed..this is a magnesium deposit." Kit explained.

"It's a great weapon...I just need a spark to show you." Kit rummaged through his satchel for a knife.

"I'm going to scrape the knife across the edge very quickly but close your eyes or else it will be too bright and blind you temporarily."

Cinderella quickly closed her eyes as Kit ran the knife down the edge of one of the rocks.

Even with his hand over her eyes, she could tell how bright the flame was.

Kit slowly opened his eyes and smiled.

"You see? I can blind my opponent and then disarm him."

Cinderella bobbed her head. "How clever of you Mister Kit, to find a weapon to disarm your enemies without hurting them overly much. It's very fine."

Kit smiled at her praise. "Shall we continue to the castle?"

Cinderella hesitated. She longed to go but didn't want anyone else knowing her secret, even if Kit had guessed it after the horse thing, she felt she could trust him.

"What is it?" Kit asked, concern taking over his happy expression.

"It's just that, I should be getting on my way." She stood up.

"But you're hurt, you can't go through the woods alone." Kit objected.

"I suppose you're right, but I don't, I mean, I can't go to the castle." Cinderella didn't want to risk the lives of any of the princes, her stepmother would hurt her again if they came near her. Or worse, if one of them should try to break the curse, her stepmother would most certainly kill him. No, she couldn't risk that.

"Why not?" Kit asked but Cinderella looked away. "You can trust me."

"I know" She turned at smiled at him. "It's just...well hard to explain. But I can't be seen trying to get anywhere near the princes. Or...bad things might happen. People could get hurt." She finished so quietly that Kit could barely hear her.

Kit pieced together the fear in her eyes and of the castle with what she said. "Is that why you were whipped?"

Cinderella met his gaze and shrugged her shoulders slightly before turning away in shame.

Kit was filled with anger at whoever had done this to her. But he knew his anger would not do anyone any good right now.

"Let me think of somewhere else you can go then, please. I don't want to leave you by yourself." Kit put his hand gently on her shoulder.

Cinderella nodded, not trusting her voice.

Kit's mind spun, trying to think of a safe place.

"What about with the priest from the village, at the church?"

"Yes, I think that would be alright, so as long as I won't be a burden to him."

"No, no he won't mind." Kit reassured her as they walked there.

Cinderella was so grateful it had been Kit who had found her.

She was a bit worried about changing species right in front of him. She and he were probably equally confused about each other. She wondered what kind of apprentice he was, with such strange tasks to complete.

For the first time in forever, someone had helped her, saved her from the witch.

For the first time in forever, someone had taken care of her, and smiled kindly at her.

For the first time in forever, she thought she had a chance at true love.

She knew Kit was good and kind and brave. His smile was already melting her insides like butter.

Even though he couldn't break the curse, she felt herself falling for him anyway.

The priest was very nice to her, getting her a cup of tea while he reassured Kit he would take care of her.

Kit was reluctant to leave but she reminded him that his master was expecting him with his weapon.

He placed his hand on her cheek and told her to be safe and that he'd hope to see her tomorrow before he left.

"Miss, pray tell me what is your name? For it I can't look after you at the castle, I would love to know the name of the maiden who has enchanted me with her bravery and kindness."

Cinderella blushed at his words. "I am Cinderella." She answered softly.

"Cinderella." Kit breathed, such lovely and unique name, much like the maiden who bore it.

He kissed her hand before leaving. He knew he couldn't leave her there if he didn't get out of the priest's house that very instant.

Cinderella's heart had raced at his touch and she took comfort in the fact his coat smelled like him.

Her heart ached though, for come morning, she would be an animal once more.

She would have to have courage and do what was right. Kit deserved someone who wasn't cursed, who was pure and beautiful and free.

Still, his kindness, she could never forget that. So she fell asleep with a smile on her face and his coat over her, reliving the beautiful memories she had with Kit.