Cinderella Junior Novelization (4 page)

I
t was eight o' clock in the evening, and guests were beginning to arrive at the palace for the ball. Coaches waited in line at the palace entrance, dropping off young women who were hoping to win the Prince's heart.

At the chateau, Cinderella looked out the window and saw a coachman and carriage waiting. While her stepmother and stepsisters primped for the big event, she had been doing dozens of chores. She had finally finished everything, but she hadn't had time to fix her dress. Cinderella was tired and disappointed. With her broom in her hand and her head hanging low, Cinderella sadly walked to her stepmother's room. She knocked on the door and Lady Tremaine opened it.

“The carriage is here,” said Cinderella solemnly. She turned around and walked away.

“Why, Cinderella,” began her stepmother, feigning concern. “You're not ready, child.”

“I'm not going,” Cinderella answered.

“Not going,” echoed Lady Tremaine. “What a shame.” She smiled at Anastasia and Drizella, who were peering from behind the door. They all got a good laugh out of Cinderella's unhappiness. Lady Tremaine's plan had worked.

Cinderella walked back up to her dark room and leaned on the windowsill. She stared dreamily out the window and imagined what it would be like at the royal ball. The palace glowed in the distance, lighting up the night sky. It was a wondrous sight—but Cinderella would only see it from afar.

Suddenly, her room filled with light. She turned around and saw the birds opening her armoire. A glowing candle revealed a dress—the perfect dress—the one
she
had not had the time to make!

“Surprise!” cheered the mice.

Cinderella grabbed the dress and held it up. She twirled around the room with joy.

“Oh, thank you so much!” she said.

Meanwhile, Lady Tremaine, Anastasia, and Drizella were walking down the stairs in their finest gowns. They headed to the front door but were suddenly stopped.

“Wait, please wait for me!” called Cinderella. She floated down the stairs in her new gown. It fit her perfectly, and she beamed with happiness.

Her stepmother and stepsisters gasped. They were not expecting to see Cinderella, let alone see her look so perfectly beautiful.

“Think it will do?” asked Cinderella, twirling around to show off her dress. The mice were watching from the balcony and were thrilled to see the stepfamily on the spot. Anastasia and Drizella were furious, and looked to their mother to do something immediately. They would not have Cinderella go to the ball with them!

The deceitful Lady Tremaine motioned for her daughters to control themselves. Her scheming mind was at work, and once again she had plan. “After all, we did make a bargain…didn't we?” she said to her daughters.

Cinderella smiled. The stepsisters were shocked. Lady Tremaine walked toward Cinderella. “And I never go back on my word,” she continued.

Jaq looked on suspiciously. He knew Lady Tremaine had something up her sleeve.

Lady Tremaine got even closer to Cinderella, who became a bit uncomfortable. Lady Tremaine lifted up the beaded necklace Cinderella was wearing—the beaded necklace that had belonged to Drizella. “How very clever…these beads, they give it just the right touch,” she said, turning toward Drizella. “Don't you think so, Drizella?”

“Why, you little thief!” screamed Drizella, understanding her mother's hint perfectly. “They're
my
beads!” She stormed toward Cinderella and ripped the necklace from her neck. “Give them here!”

“Look, that's my sash!” yelled Anastasia. She tore the sash right off the dress. The stepsisters ripped Cinderella's dress while calling her names.

“Oh, stop, please!” cried Cinderella. She covered her face and was spun around like a top as her stepsisters pulled at every inch of her dress.

“Girls!” said Lady Tremaine. She opened the front door and beckoned her daughters. “That's quite enough. Hurry along.” The stepsisters walked proudly out the door with Lady Tremaine close behind. “I won't have you upsetting yourselves,” she continued. She followed them to the carriage, leaving Cinderella stranded and devastated in the hallway.

Lady Tremaine and her daughters had not only ruined Cinderella's dress, they had also tried to ruin her spirit—and that made them very proud of themselves.

C
inderella was heartbroken. Crying, she ran through the dark halls of the house and out into the garden. Bruno and Major were in the stable and watched Cinderella race past them in tears.

The garden was dark and run-down. It looked just like Cinderella felt. She ran to a bench, kneeled beside it, and laid her head down on the bench and sobbed. Bruno and Major walked out of the stable in hopes of comforting poor Cinderella. They hung their heads in sadness. Gus, Jaq, and two other mice watched Cinderella from an outside step. They were heartbroken, too.

“It's just no use,” said Cinderella, sobbing. “There's nothing left to believe in…nothing.”

Suddenly, sparkles of white light flashed in the garden. The animals watched as the twinkling lights got brighter and surrounded Cinderella. The sparkles came together—and turned into a woman! The woman sat on the bench with Cinderella's head in her lap. Short and a bit plump, she had white hair, and she wore a blue dress and hooded cloak. A dark pink scarf tied in a big bow was wrapped around her neck. Her smile was reassuring.

“Nothing, my dear?” said the woman, stroking Cinderella's head. “Now, you don't really mean that.”

“Oh, but I do!” responded Cinderella, sniffling.

“Nonsense, child!” said the woman. “If you'd lost all your faith, I couldn't be here—and here I am!” She lifted Cinderella's head and looked her in the eyes.

Cinderella gasped.

“Oh, come now, dry those tears,” said the woman, helping Cinderella to her feet. “You can't go to the ball looking like that.”

“The ball?” asked Cinderella. She looked down at her torn dress. “But I'm not—”

“Of course you are!” said the woman. The mice smiled at the thought of Cinderella's having another chance to go to the ball. “But we'll have to hurry, because even miracles take a little time.” The woman pushed up her sleeves and raised her arms. She was ready to perform a miracle. She looked around. She seemed to be missing something.

“What in the world did I do with that magic wand?” she asked, searching inside her big sleeves.

“Magic wand?” asked Cinderella curiously. Suddenly, Cinderella put everything together and a huge smile came across her face. “Why, then you must be—”

“Your fairy godmother,” interrupted the woman. “Of course!” She continued to look for her wand, checking under the bench. After shaking out her dress one last time, she remembered that she had simply put it away. With a twirl of her finger, the wand magically appeared in her hand. Cinderella's jaw dropped and her eyes opened wide. Even the mice were shocked.

The Fairy Godmother looked Cinderella over. Deep in thought, she pointed her wand at the girl. She waved the wand up and down. Little bursts of sparkles came from it. “I'd say the first thing you need is…a pumpkin,” she said.

“A pumpkin?” asked Cinderella, holding her tattered dress. She thought a new dress was surely the first thing she needed.

The Fairy Godmother spotted a large pumpkin with its vines still rooted in the ground. She struggled for a moment to remember her magic words, but they finally came to her. She raised her arms and waved her wand.

“Bibbidi-bobbidi-boo!” she exclaimed.

Sparkling lights made a trail from the wand to the giant pumpkin. Suddenly, the pumpkin and its vines rose from the ground and bounced over to Cinderella and her fairy godmother. The animals were in awe and didn't know what to make of the giant dancing pumpkin. The mice ran to hide. Bruno and Major huddled together, trying to avoid the lengthening vines. The pumpkin grew larger and larger. The vines shaped themselves into wheels. The plain old pumpkin turned into a sparkling carriage! The animals ran toward it in amazement. “Oh, it's beautiful!” raved Cinderella. She came in for a closer look.

“Yes, isn't it?” agreed the Fairy Godmother. But the elegant coach needed more. With another wave of her wand, she turned the four mice into glorious white horses with tall pink-feathered headpieces and golden harnesses. The horses took their places at the front of the carriage.

The Fairy Godmother waved her wand again—this time at Cinderella's old horse, Major. He turned into a fine coachman! He took his place at the front of the carriage, holding the reins. The horse-turned-coachman admired himself and tipped his hat in appreciation to the Fairy Godmother.

“Well, that does it, I guess…,” began the Fairy Godmother. She raised her hand to her chin. She knew there was still something missing. “Oh, yes, the finishing touch, and that's you!”

Cinderella closed her eyes in anticipation. She knew the next round of magic had to be for her. She needed a new dress! But the magic was intended for Bruno, not Cinderella. The Fairy Godmother turned him into a footman for the carriage. Like Major, he admired his new human form, then proudly held the carriage door open for Cinderella.

“Well, well, hop in, my dear. We can hardly waste time,” said the Fairy Godmother, beckoning Cinderella toward the carriage.

“But…uh,” stammered Cinderella. She held her dress, politely trying to indicate that it needed some assistance. “Don't you think my dress—

“Yes, it's lovely, dear,” interrupted the Fairy Godmother. She smiled and closed her eyes. But once she opened them again, she was in shock. She finally noticed the state of Cinderella's dress. “Good heavens, child! You can't go in that!”

Cinderella sighed with relief. She then smiled and shook her head in agreement. It was her turn for a little magic, and she could hardly contain her excitement.

The Fairy Godmother approached Cinderella and used the wand to take her measurements. She examined Cinderella's slim physique and alluring eye color. The Fairy Godmother wanted something simple yet elegant, and most of all, new. She stepped back and waved her wand. Spirals of sparkling lights engulfed Cinderella from her feet to the top of her head. As the sparkles cascaded around her, Cinderella was transformed!

The divine ball gown was a lovely shade of blue to match her eyes. The bodice was form-fitting, while the skirt flowed loosely from the waist down. Long white gloves reached just past Cinderella's elbows. A simple necklace and sparkling earrings topped off the look. Her hair was up, and a shimmering headband kept it all in place.

“Oh, it's a beautiful dress!” Cinderella lifted the gown off the floor and twirled toward the carriage. “And look, glass slippers!” she said, pointing to the shoes. She danced over to her fairy godmother. “Why, it's like a dream. A wonderful dream come true!”

“Yes, my child,” agreed the Fairy Godmother. She quickly became more serious. “But like all dreams, I'm afraid this can't last forever. You'll have only till midnight, and then—”

“Midnight? Oh, thank you!” interrupted Cinderella. She admired her reflection in the fountain while birds twittered their approval.

But the Fairy Godmother continued with her warning.

“You must understand, my dear: on the stroke of twelve the spell will be broken and everything will be as it was before,” she warned. “Oh, I understand,” replied Cinderella. She approached the Fairy Godmother with pure joy and gratitude. “It's more than I ever hoped for.” The woman was touched and held Cinderella's face in her hands. But their special moment was quickly cut short when the Fairy Godmother realized the time. It was getting late! She nudged Cinderella toward the carriage and the footman helped her in. Cinderella looked out the window and smiled at her fairy godmother. She waved goodbye as the horses began to gallop away. Delighted, the Fairy Godmother waved back. Then, with a poof, she disappeared into thin air.

The carriage raced up and down hills, over a bridge, and through the streets of the town. The palace was in sight, and Cinderella could hardly wait to arrive.