1. Fairy Godmother
Kat just sat there crying to her knees. She couldn't go to the ball. She wouldn't see Aidan again and she couldn't tell him that she'd forgiven him. Or how much she actually loved him and how he made her life worth living. But no, she would be forever doomed to serve the Lady and her daughter, living her life alone without Aidan by her side.
''Excuse me,'' she suddenly heard a voice say. Kat looked up and saw an old woman sitting on the bench by the shed. The woman looked very old; her face was deeply wrinkled and her thin hair was mix of gray and white. Her dress was deep brown and the texture looked very much like a bark on a tree and her wooden walking cane was leaning against the bench she was sitting on. ''Can you help me, miss? Just a little crust of bread or a cup of milk?'' The woman asked hopefully.
''Yes, yes, I think I can find something,'' surprised Kat said as she rose from the step and headed into the kitchen. While there she took one of the left over rolls from that morning and before going back out she quickly wiped the fallen tears from her face.
She walked outside to see the woman sitting in the exact spot as before.
''Why are you crying?'' The woman suddenly asked as Kat walked closer to her.
''It's nothing. Here I hope you don't mind that it's not warm, it was left from this morning's breakfast,'' Kat said as she cave the roll to the woman.
''Nothing? Nothing. What is a roll of bread? Nothing. But kindness makes it everything,'' the woman said as she lifted the roll before stuffing it into her mouth. She then wiped the crumbs away from her face and dress before burping, making Kat snigger a bit.
''Now, I don't mean to hurry you my dear, but you really haven't got long, Katherine,'' the woman suddenly said, surprising Kat completely.
''How do you know my name? Who are you?'' Kat asked.
''Who am I? Well I'm your dairy mogdaughter. I mean, fairy godmother!'' The woman announced while smiling.
''You can't be,'' Kat declared while sitting down on the step, not wanting to hear the obviously crazy woman's tales.
''Why not?'' The woman questioned seriously.
''They don't exist. They only exist in the pages of storybooks,'' Kat said tiredly, knowing how back when she was younger she used to believe in fairies and happily ever after's, but as she grew older she began to realize how the world actually worked and magic was not part of it.
''My dear, how the younger generation has become so close minded?'' the woman muttered.
''What?'' Kat asked the woman.
''Oh, fiddle-faddle, fiddle-faddle,'' the woman just said as she started to get up from the bench. ''Right! First things first. Let me slip into something more comfortable,'' she said. The woman walked a little further from Kat and threw her walking cane into the air and suddenly a white glow surrounded the woman making Kat shield her eyes from the bright light.
When the glow dimmed and when Kat looked at the old woman again, she immediately noticed the change. The woman's face was no longer wrinkled, but smooth and young and her hair had turned from thin gray to thick shining blonde. Her tree bark dress has disappeared and in its place was a beautiful shimmering silvery white dress with wide skirt and intricate embroidery on the bodice. She even had small wings on her back and her walking cane had turned into a magic wand, which she now held in her hand.
''That's better,'' the Fairy Godmother said while she cracked her neck. Kat rose from the step and walked next to her Fairy Godmother as she had no idea how that happened.
''Now, where was I?'' Her Fairy Godmother thought aloud.
''How did you...'' Kat muttered as she looked at her face and dress and hair that weren't there a few minutes ago.
''Let's see. Yes coach first. Do you have any pumpkins my dear? Pumpkins truly make lovely coaches,'' her Godmother asked while looking at Kat like this was something she'd do every day, while Kat was opening and closing her mouth, not being sure what to say.
''Pumpkins? Yes, we do have a few, but they're rather small,'' Kat answered remembering the pathetically small pumpkins at the back, yet not understanding what her Godmother was up to.
''Perfect, bring me the biggest one would you my dear?'' Her Godmother asked. Kat just nodded and ran to the back where five small pumpkins grew, even though she had no idea why. The Lady and Beatrice weren't overly fond of pumpkins so the pumpkins were mostly unattended and grew very little over the year. Kat chose the biggest one of the five and brought it to her Godmother.
''Marvelous my dear. Put it right here,'' her Godmother instructed pointing at the grass in front of her. Kat placed the pumpkin at the instructed place and then looked at her Godmother. ''You might want to take couple steps back,'' her Godmother then said and Kat immediately took couple steps back so that she was standing behind her Godmother, ''Now, Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo!'' Her Godmother said and waved her wand sending a wave of magic to the pumpkin, but nothing happened.
''Nothing's happening,'' Kat said as she looked at the still pumpkin.
''Wait for it,'' her Godmother said and just then the pumpkin started to wiggle and then grow until finally it exploded and a magical golden glow surrounded it. And when the glow had gone Kat was looking at beautiful golden flower and vine detailed coach.
''There! One carriage,'' her Godmother declared as she too looked at the coach, feeling very pleased with herself.
''You really are my Fairy Godmother,'' Kat finally said as she looked at the magically turned coach, not believing her own eyes.
''Of course. I don't go about transforming pumpkins for just anybody,'' her Godmother said. ''Now, where are those mice?''
''Mice?'' Kat asked feeling once again confused.
''Yes, do you have any around? You'll need horses,'' her Godmother said pointing at the horseless carriage.
''Well there are three…'' Kat started to say.
''Perfect, bring them here. Oh we'll need a coachman too. Are there any other animals around here?'' Her Godmother asked.
''There's one rat…'' Kat said.
''Good, bring that too,'' her godmother interrupted again and then she went to check the carriage, leaving stunned Kat standing there. Kat then just shrugged her shoulders and ran to the terrace and called for Oliver, Todd and Violet. Three mice came out and after explaining the situation the mice were happy to help her. They followed after her as she walked to the shed where Pierre the rat was having his nap. Kat had to promise an entire roll for the rat's next breakfast, but eventually he too agreed to go.
Kat brought the mice and rat to her Godmother, who turned to look at her when she arrived.
''Perfect. Well the mice first,'' her Godmother gestured and the mice shyly walked up to her as she waved her wand again and the three mice were turned into beautiful white horses.
''Oh Oliver, Todd, Violet look at you,'' Kat said as she moved to pat Oliver's muzzle.
''And now Mr. Rat,'' her Godmother said and once again waved her wand. Pierre turned into a chubby, slightly balding gray-black haired man with sleek mustache. He was wearing a dark grey goat with silver buttons and black boots. He even had a black top hat with white feather on his head.
''You truly do owe me big time for this, young lady,'' Pierre said with deep French accent as he took the horses and brought them to the coach.
''Now some footmen,'' Kat's Godmother thought out loud.
''Foot…footmen?'' Kat asked as this was already more than enough.
''Yes, you'll need some footmen. Any other animals?'' her godmother asked.
''Well squirrels…'' Kat started, but once again didn't get to finish.
''Good, bring them here,'' her Godmother once again said as she send Kat to get Bobby and Monty from the apple orchard. Kat ran to the apple tree and like with the mice, when Bobby and Monty heard about her dilemma, they too wanted to help the one who had helped them so many times over the years.
Kat brought the squirrels to her Godmother, who was delighted of them. She once again waved her wand and the squirrels were turned into humans as well.
Bobby had reddish brown hair, shaved chin and deep wine red goat with golden buttons, brown pants and black boots. He was also a bit chubbier that Monty. Monty had dark brown hair and some stubble on his chin and he too had wine red goat with golden buttons, brown pants and black boots. They were both looking rather young, like humans in their early thirties and by the looks of it they were brothers as Kat had always suspected.
''And now you,'' her Godmother said while Bobby and Monty went to the carriage.
''Me?'' Kat asked, not liking the sound of that.
''Would you rather go in to the ball dressed like that?'' Her Godmother asked gesturing her ragged green dress and brown boots. And before Kat had time to answer, her Godmother waved her wand and warm glittering glow started to flow around Kat, surrounding her in it. As she started to slowly twirl she could feel how her dress' hem grew longer, how her bodice got tighter and how her neckline moved a bit lower on her chest.
Then as she twirled the hem of the dress a little faster the bottom of her dress got much wider than before. She stopped twirling as the glow started to dim around her and saw how her dress had changed.
Her dress was no longer green, but it was deep rich red in color. She had calm ruffled sleeves that were off the shoulders and into the ruffles there had been sown small red silk roses. Her bodice hugged her figure perfectly without it being too tight. Her skirt was full and wide and it was made out of many layers of very thin fabric that flowed like water and it was slightly sparkling in the night.
Her brown hair was now curled down to her mid-back and some of her hair had been braided and gather at the top of her head. She even had small crystals in her hair making it sparkle like the night sky. Kat couldn't believe her eyes.
''Oh this…I…it's beautiful,'' Kat managed to say.
''I know. Now, come on. Off you go. Quick. You'll be late!'' Her Godmother rushed her as they ran to the coach, which was now on the road ready to leave. ''Wait a minute darling. Lift up your skirt,'' her Godmother said before Kat could enter the carriage. Kat was confused, but obeyed anyway and lifted her skirt. Her Godmother could now see her ugly brown boots still on her feet. ''Just as I thought. Take them off. Quickly now,'' she rushed.
Kat obeyed and took her boots off, kicking them back into the garden.
''Now shoes are my specialty,'' her Godmother said as she waved her wand. Kat could feel how some form of heels had been put onto her feet as she felt that she grew couple inches or so. Kat then looked down and saw two pairs of beautifully cut glass slippers that had golden roses at the tip and were surprisingly comfy on her feet.
''Glass slippers?'' Kat questioned.
''Yes, and they're very comfortable,'' her Godmother promised. ''Now Katherine, you should get going.''
''But what about the Lady and her daughter? Won't they recognize me?'' Kat asked, feeling unsure even in her completely new look.
''Don't worry, I'll make sure they don't,'' her Godmother promised as he waved her wand so that small glittery magic fell on Kat. ''Now, off you go. For you shall go to the ball.''
Her Godmother and Monty then helped her onto the carriage and they closed the doors as Kat sat on the bech.
''But what if I don't fit in? What if I do something to embarrass myself? What if…'' Kat was cut off by her Godmother, who placed a finger over her lips.
''There's no 'what if's'. You just must 'have courage…'' her Godmother began,
''…And be kind'. How did you…'' Kat started to ask, but was once again cut off.
''Now Katherine I want you to remember something. The magic will only last so long. With the last echo of the last bell, at the last stroke of midnight, the spell will be broken and all will return to what it was before,'' her Godmother warned her.
''Midnight?'' Kat checked.
''Midnight,'' her Godmother confirmed.
''That's more time than I even hoped. Thank you so much,'' Kat said feeling truly grateful.
''Off you go then. And remember to have fun,'' her Godmother winked as Pierre started to drive the carriage. Kat pushed her head out of her window and waved at her Godmother until Kat was too far to see her. Kat then sat down into the carriage, not believing that she was actually going to the ball.
She was going to see Aidan again.
Okay before any of you review me back about how this was almost exactly like with Ella, let me explain. I did it on purpose. I wanted to show how similar the Fairy Godmother would act and how Kat, even though she didn't grow up with Ella, she grew up to be exactly like her mother.
Thank you, love you all,
Snow.