"How's Uli doing? I feel terrible. I should go apologize." Bridget says as the group is walking with her.
"Don't. She did it to herself. And it serves her right. She's always bullying us." Ella says as Red and Alexis stop Bridget from leaving to see Uliana.
"Ella yo that was amazing. You ladies bested Uliana! I don't think anyone's ever done that before. And that makes you braver than I am. And I'm a prince. Though I don't really like to push the royal angle." Charming says as he comes over on his skateboard as Ella smiles.
"Yet you always find a way." Ella says.
"You're the new girls right? I'm Charming." Charming says as he looks at Alexis, Red and Chloe.
"That's debatable." Ella says.
"You picked the right time to show up because it's Castlecoming week." Charming says.
"Castlecoming is an outdated and elitist tradition." Ella says.
"Does that mean you're not...?" Charming asks.
"Squeezing into a super-expensive dress and painful shoes? No thanks." Ella says as she scoffs.
"Well if you happen to change your mind I'll see you there." Charming says as he smiles and leaves.
"Hey Ella. He seemed pretty interested in your plans for the festival. Was I sensing some chemistry?" Chloe asks as she smiles.
"Uh no. Okay yeah everyone loves him and sure he's gorgeous and he seems nice but you know how royalty is. Well except for you B. You're different." Ella says.
"I just wish someone was that interested in going with me. Everyone already has plans so..." Bridget says sadly.
"Bridget will you go to Castlecoming with me?" Ella asks.
"But you just said..." Bridget says confusedly.
"Yeah I despise everything it stands for. But if we go as friends maybe it won't be totally awful." Ella says as she and Bridget chuckle happily.
"We have to try on dresses right now! We only have two days." Bridget says excitedly as she spins into Ella's arms.
"I can't. I have to get back home. But maybe later." Ella says as she smiles softly.
"Okay. See you later. Bye!" Bridget says excitedly as she hugs Ellla and leaves.
"I better get home." Ella says as she leaves.
"Well that was something." Alexis says as Red nods in agreement.
"And two days until my mom gets pranked." Red says as the group walks off into a room with instruments.
"It's not enough time." Chloe says
"It's gonna have to be. You know what happens if we don't stop this." Alexis says.
"I just... I can't believe my mom was so sweet." Red says.
"I know the feeling. I knew my mom was a loner when she was young but I didn't expect her to the way she was." Alexis says as Red plays with some instruments.
"Tell me about it. My mom's supposed to be the most perfect and gracious queen ever. Ella seems like she can't even stand royalty." Chloe says.
"Yeah. You know the craziest thing of it all..." Red says.
"They were best friends." Red, Alexis and Chloe say in union before looking at each other.
"Okay well now the question is how do we stop Uliana before Castlecoming?" Chloe asks.
"First we have to figure out what she's planning which won't be easy but we'll figure it out." Alexis says.
"Bugs in Bridget's dress? Or... Or something with snakes? So many good options. What?" Red asks as she notices Alexis looking at her.
"That is somewhat alarming you just said all that." Alexis says.
"What can I say? I had to find my own way to have fun. Which I'm sure you did too Princess." Red says as she smiles at Alexis causing Alexis to playfully roll her eyes.
"So let's find out more about Uliana. You think my mom might know?" Chloe asks.
"Maybe. Plus she's closest to Bridget. So she'll know her weaknesses and exactly how to stab her in the back." Red says as Chloe looks at her concernedly.
"You have some serious intimacy issues." Chloe says as Red smiles.
*Timeskip*
"This is where Cinderella grew up?" Red asks as the group comes to an awful looking house.
"I hope not." Chloe says.
"Oh this place is creepy. I can see why you're mom never mentioned it to you." Alexis says before the group knocks on the door and is greeted by Ella as she opens the door.
"Um... What are you guys doing here?" Ella asks.
"We came to see you." Alexis says.
"Who's there?" A frightful sounding woman asks from a higher up window.
"Just some girls from school!" Ella shouts.
"Well get back to work or no supper!" The woman shouts angrily.
"Sorry my stepmom is..." Ella says.
"A total witch? I get it my mom never let me have friends over. Or have friends." Red says.
"Really?" Alexis asks as Red looks at her and nods slightly.
"Okay. You guys can stay but you have to help me with my chores. Here you go. The floor needs mopping. And over there needs dusting." Ella says as the group follows her inside and begins helping her do chores.
"You do all the house work?" Chloe asks.
"Yeah. All on me." Ella says before Chloe slips in her glass shoes.
"Oh." Chlo says as Alexis helps her get her balance again.
"Hey. It's time to lose the glass shoes." Red says.
"These were from my mom. They were a reward." Chloe says.
"A reward for what?" Ella asks.
"For volunteering, being good at school, and being a good person." Chloe says.
"I mean does it really count as being a good person if you're getting a reward for it?" Ella asks.
"So Ella that thing with Uliana at school. It's pretty wild. Huh?" Red asks.
"Seriously. Well she's as bad as Ursula. Uliana's older sister. And the worst bully this school has ever seen. One time she turned all the freshmen into frogs. Now Uliana thinks she has to be even meaner to try and live up to her reputation." Ella says.
"But why does Uliana have it out for Bridget?" Chloe asks.
"Yeah. She is so nice. Why would someone want to be mean to her?" Alexis asks.
"Bullies love an easy target and Bridget's weak." Red says.
"You think Bridget's weak? Hey look. Uliana is mean to everyone. Most people just stay out of her way. But no matter how nasty Uliana gets Bridget keeps trying to be friends. That's what Uliana can't stand." Chloe says.
"Wait. So you're saying Bridget's strong because she's nice?" Red asks in surprise.
"Bridget is the strongest person I know. She's kind even when people are awful to her. You know how hard that is?" Ella asks.
"Never thought about it. Say we wanted to find Uliana where do you think she'd be?" Red asks as Alexis looks at her.
"Probably the Black Lagoon. That's where all the VKs hang out." Ella says before Ella accidentally breaks a vase.
"What was that?" Evil Stepmother asks angrily from another area of the house.
"Nothing Stepmother!" Ella shouts worriedly.
"Quick sweep it into the fireplace. She'll never know." Red says as the group tries to sweep the broken pieces into the fire place only to get caught before they do finish doing so by the Evil Stepmother.
"It was an honest mistake. It was my fault. But I'm very sorry and it won't ever happen again." Chloe says.
"You let this stranger into my house and let her break my beautiful things? Unacceptable." Stepmother says angrily as she looks at Ella.
"But I said I was sorry." Chloe says in surprise.
"Well sorry doesn't buy me a new vase now does it? And furthermore you are grounded. And tonight you can sleep in the barn. Anastasia, Drizella! It's time for your dress fitting." Evil Stepmother says angrily before she leaves.
"Ella I'm... I'm so sorry." Chloe says as she looks at Ella sadly.
"Sorry doesn't get me ungrounded you know? Next time don't be such a princess." Ella says.
"But that was so unfair!" Chloe says.
"You know what's unfair? My mom died when I was so little and I barely even remember. My dad got remarried and then he died too. And since then this is the only family I've known. And no matter how good I am they still treat me like dirt. Yeah it's unfair... 'Cause life isn't fair. Just leave." Ella says harshly.
"Come on Chloe." Alexis says as she puts her hand on Chloe's shoulder.
"We should give her a little time." Red says as the group leaves.