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Chapter 17

"Leaving Bordeaux"

In the cover of darkness, we made our way out of the kingdom we had called home ever since we married and became rulers-in-waiting. In an effort to take some of the edge off, my fairy godmother had recreated the pumpkin coach that was used to bring me to the ball that fateful night. Still, I couldn't help but think of something else that wasn't related to the impending war.

"Cinderella," I heard Christopher say to me in a hushed voice. "Cinderella."

"Oh, oh, sorry Chris," I stammered, my train of thought broken by his interruption. "I was just thinking…about what happened last month. My stepmother and Drizella…should I forgive them?"

Christopher was somewhat surprised by my confession.

"After the way they treated you Cinderella, why would you forgive them? Remember that your stepmother tried to erase our marriage."

"I'm aware of that, Chris. But, if we gave Anastasia a second chance, why not them? Someday, but not now."

As we rode on, a light rainfall began to come down on our procession. This rain was no ordinary rain, but a sign of things to come maybe. The only other noise being heard aside from the rain was the sounds of boots from the army that vowed to join us in England.

"I wonder if Pierre is among the soldiers?" I remarked, looking out the back of the coach to see the soldiers right behind us.

"He probably is, Cinderella."

"I can only imagine what Anastasia must be thinking right now. That's the thing with someone like her, Chris. She shows remorse for the way she treated me."

"Just because she shows remorse doesn't mean the others will, either. Sending them into exile might make them reconsider their actions, but it may not. Besides, there is something else that is bothering me."

Suddenly, I began to get a hunch that Chris' anxieties in serving Napoleon's forces were starting to get to him.

"Is it your stress?"

Taking a deep breath, Chris made his confession to me.

"It is, Cinderella. Ever since I deferred from his forces, I feel like Napoleon is out to get me. Like he wants to make me pay and who knows what he might do to you, Cinderella."

The idea of Napoleon doing something bad to me seemed so far away, especially after that dark moment when the gown my animal friends made for me was torn apart by Anastasia and Drizella. But, I had to remember that I am not just a princess, but also a survivor.

"He won't do anything to me, Chris. He won't do anything to us. We'll be safe in England."

"But what if he finds a way to march onto British shores, Cinderella? What will we do then? England is only an island and islands can only go so far."

"Maybe you are just overreacting, Chris. The British Royal Navy is among the best in all of Europe. If there is anyone that can protect us from Napoleon, it's them."

Still, this did little to lower Chris' stress level. Being a soldier of Napoleon, he had seen horrors of war, particularly in Italy.

"What about the women and children who were never given a plea for mercy?" he asked, much to my surprise. "What about them, hmm?"

"What do you mean?"

"In Turin, when Piedmont-Sardinia became Napoleon's protectorate. His soldiers wasted no time looting and celebrating their victory. How did they celebrate? They celebrated by ripping families apart and impressing fathers, uncles, brothers into the French army. Women and Children were forced to do things they didn't want to do or didn't understand."

"Like what, Chris?"

But Chris said nothing, for it seemed all too distracting and real to him and I respectfully didn't ask him anymore questions.

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Throughout the night, we traveled in the rain and we finally arrived at the port where a pair of British ships were waiting to take us to England. We finally came to a stop and looked at the large 64 gunned ship towering over us.

"Prince Christopher and Princess Cinderella of Bordeaux?" called a voice as we stepped out of the coach, which quickly turned back into Major, Bruno and the mice. Stepping down the gangplank was a middle aged British man in the red uniform of a Royal Navy admiral, saluting us as he arrived. "I am Admiral Ephinstone of his majesty's navy and we have come to bring you to safety."

"Thank you, admiral," said Chris. "I'm sorry about the weather."

"The wind is all that matters," chuckled Admiral Ephinstone. "Come aboard."

So following the Admiral, we made our way up the gangplank and aboard the 64 gunned ship.

"Welcome to the HMS Hermione, your majesties," he announced. "Your passport to safety in his majesty's care."

But all we cared about was getting to safety and nothing more. It would be a while to load all the supplies and soldiers aboard the two ships, however, the only thing we cared about was that we were to be safe from any harm. Still, neither of us couldn't help but think of whether we would see Bordeaux again…perhaps some day, but not now.

When daybreak fell and the winds were in our favor, the two ships pulled off from the docks and we were soon on our way to England to join our fellow refugees also escaping from Napoleon's wrath.

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Elsewhere, while Cinderella was making her escape, in the kingdom of Agrabah, I had come to a decision. Agrabah was going to aide the Ottomans against the threat of the Russians.

"Father, I think this is the right decision," I explained to my father as he and Aladdin came into my quarters. "For the past month, we have been left with a choice to either sit back or fight alongside the rest of the empire. Wouldn't either of you have made this decision?"

"Jasmine, this is a tremendous risk that we are taking," the Sultan advised. "But being a future ruler also requires the strongest of wills."

And my father was right. Agrabah was more than just a kingdom, it was our home and we were going to defend it one way or another although it would have otherwise not been our first choice, that's for sure.

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