Cinderella Junior Novelization
For Lilly and Lucy, my little princesses
âM.L.
Copyright © 2012 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. Published by Disney Press, an imprint of Disney Book Group. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher. For information address Disney Press, 114 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10011-5690.
ISBN: 978-1-4231-8226-9
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O
nce upon a time in a faraway land, a majestic castle sat high atop a hill overlooking its kingdom. Though the kingdom was small, it flourished, and abounded in strong traditions and peaceful people.
Deep within the kingdom, a grand chateau was home to a widowed man and his beautiful young daughter, Cinderella. Her golden hair and sparkling blue eyes made her lovely to behold, but Cinderella's beauty also came from within. Her kind heart and gentle nature were evident to everyone who met her. She loved her father dearly and enjoyed being with him. She especially loved spending time in the courtyard with her father, her horse, Major, and her puppy, Bruno.
Cinderella's father was equally kind and extremely devoted to his daughter. He loved her greatly and provided her with a luxurious life, but he felt she needed a mother figure. He selected Lady Tremaine as his new wife. She came from a good family and had two daughters, Anastasia and Drizella, both of whom were close to Cinderella's age.
Unfortunately, shortly after the marriage, Cinderella's beloved father died. Cinderella was heartbroken, and she quickly discovered her stepmother's true character. Lady Tremaine was a cold, spiteful, horrid woman who wanted the best only for her own daughters, not for Cinderella. She was deeply jealous of Cinderella's beauty and charmâand she was concerned that Cinderella would easily outshine Anastasia and Drizella. Lady Tremaine would stop at nothing to make Cinderella's life miserable.
Over time, the once stately chateau became run-down and neglected. The sunlit, flower-filled courtyard Cinderella and her father used to enjoy turned dark and dreary. Lady Tremaine spent the family fortune on her two selfish daughters. While Anastasia and Drizella were pampered and dressed in the finest gowns, Cinderella wore rags. She was humiliated and mistreated. Cinderella was banished from her cozy bedroom to a secluded tower in the chateau and finally was made a servant in her own home. Despite her hardships, she remained kind and gentle.
Cinderella believed happiness would come to her once again.â¦
E
arly one morning, but not too early for the birds to start their day, sunshine poured into Cinderella's room as some birds opened her window. A view of the sun-drenched castle in the distance was clear and bright. The sleepy young lady lying nestled in her bed tried to ignore the chirping of her little friends. Dressed in tiny shoes and head scarves, the birds tweeted “Wake up!” into Cinderella's ear. Clutching her pillow, Cinderella sighed and rolled over, pretending to go back to sleep. Unbeknownst to one of the birds, however, Cinderella sneaked her hand from under the covers. She tapped the tip of his tail. The bird was quite surprised. He squeaked and plopped onto the foot of the bed, embarrassed. His friend laughed, and Cinderella giggled. She was awake after all!
“Well, serves you right, spoiling people's best dreams,” Cinderella said playfully to the bird.
The birds continued to chirp and beckon Cinderella toward the window.
“Yes, I know it's a lovely morning, but it was a lovely dream, too,” answered Cinderella as she leaned back against her pillow. She always had such wonderful and happy dreams. She hoped that one day those dreams would come true.
The birds chirped.
“What kind of dream?” Cinderella considered their question. “If you tell a wish, it won't come true,” she replied. “And after all, a dream is a wish your heart makes.”
The birds were satisfied with her answer and sat quietly to listen to her sing a sweet song as she brushed her hair. Cinderella's gentle voice attracted even more birds to the window, and soon she had quite an audience.
The mice that lived between the walls of the chateau awoke and crept through cracks to claim their spots on the bedposts. Jaq, one of Cinderella's dearest mouse friends, sat on top of the post closest to Cinderella. He slowly batted his eyes and smiled as he listened to Cinderella sing.
Ding, dong! Ding, dong! Ding, dong!
Cinderella's leisurely wake-up was quickly spoiled when the clock on the palace tower sounded. She grabbed her pillow and pretended to threaten the clock with it. Then she slipped on her shoes and turned toward the window. “I hear you. âCome on, get up,' you say!” She sighed as the clock struck again. “Time to start another day.”
Cinderella tossed her pillow on her bed and threw her frayed brown bedcover in the air. The birds grabbed the corners of the cover and tucked them into place. Four other birds straightened out the wrinkles and plumped her pillow.
Cinderella grabbed her towel and headed across the dull wooden floors to the washbasin in her plain and simple room. A girl mouse wearing a head scarf and dress shooed the male mice out of the room so Cinderella could get ready. Some of the girl mice filled the washbasin with water while some birds dampened the sponge. Others folded her hair ribbon, polished her slippers, and fluffed her dress. They worked busily to help Cinderella get ready for the day ahead.
J
aq and another mouse scurried under the door into Cinderella's room just as Cinderella finished tying her hair ribbon. They climbed on top of her dresser and babbled in unison.
“Wait a minute, one at a time, please!” said Cinderella as she tried to calm the mice. “Now, Jaq, what's all the fuss about?”
“There's a new mouse in-a the house,” Jaq began in his not-quite-perfect mouse chatter.
“Tizavor!”
“Oh, a
visitor,
” said Cinderella. She clearly understood Jaq's funny speech. Cinderella opened one of her dresser drawers, which was filled with little mice clothes, and pulled out a shirt, a hat, and shoes.
“Please get 'im out!” continued Jaq frantically, seeing that his human friend did not fully understand the situation. “Trap! It's a trap!”
“Well, why didn't you say so?” Cinderella said, springing into action. She grabbed the mouse clothes and went running out of her room, down the long tower staircase. The mice raced after her.
Cinderella found the trap at the bottom of the stairs. She kneeled down and looked in to find a frightened mouse.
“Oh, the poor little thing is scared to death!” She opened the trap. “Jaq, maybe you'd better explain things to him.” She gently placed the open trap on the floor. Jaq approached the mouse, who put up his fists, ready to defend himself.
“Now, now, now,” Jaq began. “There's nothing to worry about.” He pointed to his friends reassuringly. The frightened mouse looked up and saw a group of mice smiling down at him. “We like-a you,” continued Jaq. Cinderella looked inside the trap and smiled, too. “Cinderelly really likes-a you, too. She's-a nice.” Jaq put his arm around the new mouse's shoulder and led him out of the trap.
Cinderella held up the tiny shirt and shoes she had brought for their new guest. The mouse was rather plump, and Cinderella wasn't sure the clothes would fit. “Let's just slip it on for size,” she said, pulling the shirt over his head. “It's a little snug, but it will have to do.” After putting on his hat and shoes, it was time for Cinderella to give him a name. “Octavius. But for short, we'll call you Gus.”
Jaq turned to Gus the newcomer and nodded in approval. Gus agreed that the name was a good fit. He was excited about his new friends, his new clothes,
and
his new name. He had a feeling that the other mice and Cinderella would take good care of him.
C
inderella hurried off to start her daily chores. She entered the elegant hallway leading to the rooms where her stepmother and stepsisters slept. The carpet was plush and purple, and the chandelier, ornate and grand, twinkled from the high ceiling. Cinderella opened the velvet curtains of a huge window and the hall was flooded with light.
Cinderella tiptoed toward her stepmother's bedroom door. First on her to-do list was to feed her stepmother's nasty cat, Lucifer. Sneaky and mean, Lucifer loved to stir up trouble but hated to be stirred himself. The overfed cat slept curled in a ball on his own soft, frilly bed in Lady Tremaine's room. Cinderella opened her stepmother's door and politely summoned Lucifer for breakfast. With a stretch and a yawn, Lucifer stood up, turned away from Cinderella, and sat back down. He did not want to be disturbed.
“Lucifer, come here!” Cinderella said in a loud whisper. She wanted the cat to obey her but did not want to wake her sleeping stepmother. Lucifer was startled and jumped up. Since his cozy slumber was officially over and there was food to be had, he gave in and unhurriedly made his way out of the room with his head held high.
“I'm sorry if Your Highness objects to an early breakfast,” said Cinderella to Lucifer as he slowly strutted behind her. “It's certainly not my idea to feed you first. It's orders.”
Meanwhile, Jaq and Gus stood close to the wall, watching Lucifer follow Cinderella down the stairs. Jaq tried to warn Gus about the mean old cat. But Lucifer didn't intimidate the newcomer at all. Gus laughed and put up his little fists, then stuck out his chest and made to march toward the fat cat. Jaq pulled Gus's tail and dragged him back to the wall. He tried to talk some sense into his new friend. “Lucifer is not-a funny,” he said to Gus. “Lucifer is
mean
.”
Cinderella and Lucifer made their way to the kitchen. Bruno the dog was growling and running in his sleep on a rug by the stove. Cinderella woke her old dog.
“Dreaming again?” she asked as she started to boil water for tea. “Chasing Lucifer?”
Bruno smiled. He and Lucifer did not get along at all. The smug cat was always trying to gain the upper hand.
“You'd better get rid of those dreams,” Cinderella said to Bruno. She knew that if Bruno made too much noise and fought with Lucifer, her stepmother would throw him out of the house. “Just learn to like cats,” she suggested, making Bruno groan.
As Cinderella placed cups and saucers on a tray, she tried to think positively of the cat. “There must be
something
good about him,” she said to Bruno, shrugging. Lucifer scowled at Cinderella. Bruno was quite amused. But Lucifer would have the last laugh. He slyly looked at Cinderella as she started to pour his milk. He slid under Bruno on the rug and scratched him. Bruno reacted angrily and growled. But the sly cat lay on his back and meowed at Cinderella as if he were the victim.
Cinderella stopped pouring the milk and went to intervene. She opened the door and let a defeated Bruno out of the house. “I know it isn't easy, but we should all at least try to get along together,” she said to him. Cinderella put the dish of milk down in front of Lucifer. “That includes you, Your Majesty,” she added.
Lucifer swirled his milk with his paw. With a hateful look, he watched Cinderella head off to attend to her other morning chores.