Cinderella Junior Novelization (6 page)

C
inderella's magical coach was almost home—but something happened. The clock chimed for one last time. Midnight was struck! The coach slowed down. Its wheels turned back into long vines. It turned orange. The driver turned back into Cinderella's old horse. The four beautiful horses pulling the carriage turned back into mice. The footman became Bruno again.

In an instant, Cinderella found herself sitting on top of a pumpkin in her torn pink gown. Bruno and Major were by her side, and they were all stopped in the middle of the dirt road. The magic was gone. Everything changed back to the way it had been, just as the Fairy Godmother had said it would.

Suddenly, the sound of charging horses filled the air. Cinderella and the animals jumped up and ran into the bushes to get out of the way. The royal horsemen came speeding by and crushed the pumpkin in their path. They continued their chase for the coach holding the mystery girl from the ball. Unbeknownst to them, that girl was Cinderella, and she was kneeling on the roadside.

“I'm sorry,” she said to Bruno and Major. “I guess I forgot about everything…even the time.”

Major listened to Cinderella and smiled. His eyes opened wide. He wanted to hear more about her evening.

“But it was so wonderful!” continued Cinderella. Bruno smiled and wagged his tail. “And he was handsome!” Cinderella closed her eyes and clasped her hands. She was reliving the night in her head.

Gus and Jaq made their way to a large rock. Gus snuggled up to Jaq and closed his eyes. He, too, was imagining Cinderella's magical night.

Cinderella sighed and looked up to the stars.

“Oh, I'm sure even the Prince himself couldn't have been more…” She paused. Then she took a deep breath and stopped dreaming. Cinderella accepted that the ball was over. But that didn't matter. She was finally experiencing the happiness she had always hoped for—she had fallen deeply in love. Caught up in recalling every detail, she didn't realize that the man she had spent such a wonderful evening with was the guest of honor himself, the Prince!

Cinderella got to her feet, ready to move on. She heard a little voice from the ground. It was Jaq. He was jumping up and down, pointing to her feet. Cinderella looked down and saw that she still had on one glass slipper. She took it off her foot and held it close to her heart. The slipper sparkled, and its light illuminated Cinderella's face. She looked up to the stars once more. She wanted her fairy godmother to know how very grateful she was for such a magical evening.

“Thank you,” she said, intending the words for her fairy godmother, wherever she was. “Thank you so much for everything.”

A
t the palace, the Grand Duke stood outside the King's bedroom door. He was preparing himself for his confrontation with the King. He had to break the news that the young lady disappeared. It wasn't going to be easy. He stood tall and proud and rehearsed his speech in front of an empty chair. He held the glass slipper in his hand. At last he was feeling confident, and he turned around, ready to knock on the door. But he quickly had a change of heart.

“No, I just can't,” said the Grand Duke nervously. He slumped down and held his head in his hands. The King was going to be livid, and it was the Duke's fault. He looked through the keyhole in the door to procrastinate a little longer and to see what the King was doing. He wanted to see what the King's mood was like before telling him the bad news.

In the bedroom, the King was asleep on his gigantic bed. He wore a large white nightshirt and a purple nightcap. Between snores he let out a big chuckle. He was probably dreaming about playing with his adorable grandchildren, the Duke thought.

He finally found the courage to knock on the door, cutting the King's sweet dream short. The King awoke and collected himself.

“Come in!” he yelled.

The Duke opened the large door—slowly. He started to speak but was charged by the very excited King, who tackled him to the ground.

“So he's proposed already?” roared the King, leading the Duke into his room. “Tell me all about it. Who is she? Where does she live?” He slid a large chair under the Duke, forcing him to sit and reveal all the details.

The Duke tried to speak, but the King continued to rant.

“Eh, we've more important things to discuss,” he said. “Arrangements for the wedding, invitations, a national holiday, all that sort of thing!” He lit a cigar with his candelabra in celebration.

The Duke rose from his chair and tried to get a word in but was quickly quieted. The King pushed him back down into the chair and shoved a cigar into his mouth. The King's excitement grew. Laughing, he shoved another dozen cigars into the Duke's mouth and lit those with his candelabra, too.

“Bu-bu-but, sire, if you would only listen!” the Duke interrupted through the mouthful.

The King wouldn't listen. He took out his large sword and pointed it at the Duke, who panicked and dropped to the floor, spitting out all the cigars but one.

“And for you, my friend,” the King said, aiming the sword at the Duke's head. “A knighthood!”

The Duke knew he had to just come out and tell the King what had happened, no matter the consequences. He kneeled on the floor, quivering with fear.

“Sire, she got away!” he declared.

The short, stout King was too giddy with excitement to hear at first. But when he realized what the Duke had said, his face turned as red as a beet with anger.

“She WHAT?” hollered the King, raising his fist in the air. “You traitor!” He was convinced that the Duke was working against him. He turned a deep shade of purple. His blood was boiling. He lifted his sword and it came crashing down inches from the Duke's nose, slicing the cigar in his mouth in half.

The Duke hid behind a chair, yelling for the King to stop. The King was infuriated and slashed at everything in his path.

“You were in league with the Prince all along!” yelled the King, chasing the Duke.

“I tried to stop her,” replied the Duke. “Bu-bu-but she vanished into thin air!” He hid under a table, but the King came charging and sliced the table right down the middle.

“A likely story!” the King yelled.

The Duke jumped onto the King's bed and bounced high into the air.

“All we could find was this glass slipper,” he said, holding it up to show the King.

The King bounced onto the bed. He went up and the Duke went down. With each passing bounce, the King tried to strike him.

“The whole thing was a plot!” yelled the King, bouncing and waving his sword. He was still convinced that the Duke and the Prince had been working together to ruin the ball.

“But, sire, he loves her,” the Duke protested. “He won't rest until he finds her. He's determined to marry her!”

“What? What did you say?” asked the King more gently. His demeanor changed and he actually cracked a smile.

The Duke bounced so high that he landed on the chandelier. His body draped over one of the chandelier's arms.

“The Prince, sire,” he continued, “swears he'll marry none but girl who fits this slipper!” He presented the sparkling glass slipper to the King again.

The King bounced up to the chandelier and sat on another arm.

“He said that, did he?” asked the King, grabbing the slipper and kissing it happily. “Ha ha, we got it!” He laughed and sliced the wire holding the chandelier. With both men still on it, the chandelier crashed to the bed, making a hole straight through to the floor.

“But, sire,” began the Duke, standing up in the mess. “This slipper may fit any number of girls.”

“That's his problem,” said the King, tossing the slipper back to the Duke. “He's given his word, and we'll hold him to it.”

“No, no, Your Majesty, I'll have nothing to do with it,” vowed the Duke. He turned his back to the King, put the slipper on the bed, and folded his arms in protest.

The King thrust his sword at the glass slipper and picked it up on the pointed tip. He slid the sword underneath the Duke's nose with the slipper dangling on the end.

“You'll try this on every maid in the kingdom!” ordered the King. “And if the shoe fits, bring her in.”

The Duke trembled and looked at the sword under his nose.

“Ye-ye-yes, Your Majesty,” he agreed.

All loyal subjects of His Imperial Majesty are hereby notified by royal proclamation that in regard to a certain glass slipper, it is upon this day decreed that a quest be instituted throughout the length and breadth of our domain. The sole and express purpose of said quest is as follows to wit: that every maiden in our beloved kingdom shall try upon her foot this aforementioned slipper of glass, and should one be found whose foot shall properly fit said slipper, such maiden will be acclaimed the object of this search and the one and only true love of His Royal Highness, our noble Prince. And said Royal Highness will humbly request the hand of said maiden in marriage to rule with him over all the land as Royal Princess and future Queen
.

A
t the King's royal request, a formal proclamation was issued and posted outside the palace gates for all in the kingdom to see.

Word spread throughout the kingdom, and all the eligible maidens frantically prepared for the chance to try on the glass slipper. No one was as frantic as Lady Tremaine. Her daughters had another opportunity to become royalty, and she needed them dressed and ready. She would do anything in her power to have one of her daughters marry the Prince.

“Cinderella, Cinderella!” she shouted as she started up the stairs to her daughters' rooms. “Oh, where is that girl?”

Cinderella opened a door in the downstairs hallway with a broom in her hand.

“Yes, here I am,” she responded politely.

“My daughters,” Lady Tremaine asked abruptly. “Where are they?”

“I think they're still in bed,” replied Cinderella.

“Well, don't just stand there!” yelled Lady Tremaine, glaring at Cinderella. “Bring up the breakfast trays at once—and hurry!” She feverishly picked up her skirt and continued up the stairs to Anastasia's and Drizella's rooms.

Cinderella stood in the open doorway and curiously watched Lady Tremaine hurry off. She wondered why her stepmother was in such a rush. But she obeyed, as usual, and went to fetch breakfast.

Gus and Jaq were standing in the doorway, too, and they were just as curious about Lady Tremaine's urgency.

“I wonder what's the matter with-a her,” said Jaq, puzzled by all the excitement.

“Yes, what's the matter with her?” asked Gus, pointing up the stairs.

“I don't know. Let's find out!” said Jaq. He grabbed Gus's hand. They ran into an opening in the wall and scurried up to the next floor.

Lady Tremaine stormed into Drizella's room, calling her daughter's name. Drizella was still asleep in her bed, wearing a yellow nightgown and nightcap. Her bare feet stuck out from underneath the quilt. She was startled at the shrill sound of her mother's voice.

“What?” she said, stretching her arms and legs. “Get up, quick, this instant!” Lady Tremaine opened the curtains and bright sunlight poured in.

“We haven't a moment to lose!” Drizella squinted and covered her head with her quilt despite her mother's warning.

Lady Tremaine left Drizella's room and burst into Anastasia's. Gus and Jaq had made their way to Anastasia's room, too. They hid behind candles in the candelabra and listened to everything.

“Anastasia!” Lady Tremaine yelled. Anastasia was sound asleep and covered from head to toe with her quilt. Lady Tremaine went over to the bed and shook Anastasia to wake her. “Get up, Anastasia!”

Anastasia lifted her head from beneath her pillow and quilt. Her pink nightcap covered her eyes. “What's wrong?” she asked with a yawn. Light filled the bedroom as Lady Tremaine opened the curtains. “Oh, everyone's talking about it…the whole kingdom,” she growled. “Oh, hurry, he'll be here any minute!”

“Who will?” asked Drizella, who was standing in the doorway yawning and scratching her leg. She had finally dragged herself out of bed. Like Anastasia, she was still exhausted and couldn't understand her mother's insistence.

“The Grand Duke!” replied Lady Tremaine. “He's been hunting all night.” She went an armoire and sifted through clothes.

“Hunting?” asked Anastasia, more confused.

“For
that
girl!” snarled Lady Tremaine.

Just then, Cinderella approached the door with a breakfast tray. She heard her stepmother ranting about the previous evening and her eyes widened with curiosity. She walked into the room so that she could hear more.

“The one who lost her slipper at the ball last night,” continued Lady Tremaine. “They say he's madly in love with her.”

Drizella sat down on Anastasia's bed.

“The Duke is?” asked Anastasia groggily, sleepily lifting her cap to reveal her eyes.

“No, no, no, the PRINCE!” shrieked Lady Tremaine.

Cinderella gasped and her eyes opened even wider.

“The Prince?” she whispered to herself. Cinderella finally realized that the man she had fallen madly in love with at the ball was the Prince himself. She dropped the tray and everything went crashing to the floor.

Lady Tremaine jumped and quickly turned toward Cinderella. She was disgusted with her. “You clumsy little fool!” she yelled. “Clean that up and then help my daughters dress.”

Cinderella's stepsisters saw no reason to get up and dressed if the Prince was already in love with a girl. Drizella let out another big yawn and Anastasia rested her chin in her hand. Neither of them made any attempt to obey their mother. They both pulled Anastasia's quilt over their heads and chose to go back to sleep.

Lady Tremaine became even angrier. She ripped the covers off the girls and demanded their attention from the foot of the bed. “Now, you two listen to me,” she insisted. “There is still a chance that one of you can get him.”

Anastasia and Drizella peeked out of the quilt in unison. “One of us?” they asked.

Lady Tremaine changed her tone and became quiet and calculating. She leaned over the footboard. “Just listen,” she said, waving her finger at her daughters. “No one, not even the Prince, knows who that girl is.”

Gus and Jaq were still on stakeout in the candelabra. Gus popped his head out with excitement when he heard what Lady Tremaine had said.

“We know, we know!” he yelled. “Cinderelly, Cinderelly!” Jaq quickly quieted Gus. He pushed him back down under the candle in the candelabra. He didn't want to blow their cover.

“The glass slipper is their only clue,” continued Lady Tremaine. “The Duke has been ordered to try it on every girl in the kingdom.” Cinderella was on the floor picking up the pieces from the dropped tray. She locked her eyes on her stepmother and listened intently to every word she said.

“And if one can be found whom the slipper fits,” continued Lady Tremaine, “then by the King's command, that girl shall be the Prince's bride!”

“Bride?” Cinderella whispered. Her body froze. She couldn't believe what she had just heard.

Drizella and Anastasia couldn't believe it, either. They jumped off the bed and scrambled around the room to get ready. They wildly grabbed clothes and threw them at Cinderella. They commanded her to iron, mend, and sew.

Cinderella stood up holding the tray with a dreamy look on her face. She smiled from ear to ear and slowly batted her eyes. She paid no attention to the clothes being thrown at her. She was standing there, but her mind was somewhere else. She was in love and the Prince was in love with her—that was all she could think about.

After loading Cinderella down with even more clothes and making more requests, the stepsisters finally stopped. They noticed that she was not responding to them.

“What's the matter with her?” asked Anastasia, pointing to Cinderella.

“Wake up, stupid!” yelled Drizella.

“We've got to get dressed!” growled Anastasia.

Cinderella snapped out of her daydream and finally reacted to her stepsisters' demands, though she was still in a daze.

“Dressed?” said Cinderella, looking down at her own clothes. “Oh, yes, well, we must get dressed.” She handed the pile of clothes back to Anastasia and turned away from her. She mumbled to herself about getting dressed as she walked out of the room.