Two Worlds, Two Girls, Two Problems (book one)

A New Light: Aubrey

 "Fairy godmother?" Cinderella asked once again.

The lady turned around. The lady was old, but not frail. Her green eyes were full of hope. Although her hair was gray, she still looked as if she was full of joy. Her pastel blue cloak flew as she did a twirl. Her blue hood fell to her shoulders as she tapped her wand on her index finger.

Aubrey held back a cry of relief.

The fairy godmother frowned at Aubrey. "I heard a cry of distress. But it wasn't Cinderella's."

"What? Then it must have been..." Cinderella's blue eyes settled on Aubrey.

"Aubrey. Yes. I don't know how or why I heard her cry, but since I am here." the fairy godmother made her way toward Aubrey. She bent over and wiped a tear from her eye. Her hands were smooth but silkily soft. "Dearie, you've been crying. What may I help you with?"

Aubrey could've wished to go back home. She could've wished to be with Tabitha But inside her heart, she knew that this was Cinderella's story. Not hers. But Cinderella's.

"I would like for Cinderella to go to the ball. And have the ending that she deserved." Aubrey gazed up into the emerald green eyes of the fairy godmother who just nodded.

The fairy godmother gave her wand a spin. The tip sparkled with white light fragments. "Bibbidi bobbidi boo." she waved her wand and a stream of golden light spilled out from the tip of her wand. They danced around Cinderella, who was standing. The sparkles started taking shape into fairies. They dove into the fabric of Cinderella's dress. Cinderella gasped in wonder as embroidered fairies appeared onto the fabric as if it was a print. The mice clapped in response.

The fairy godmother waved her wand once again and a shower of glowing orbs escaped from the tip of the wand and flew straight toward the mice. In a poof of blue dust, the mice were replaced with four stallions. They whinnied and dashed out to the front door.

"Cinderella?" The fairy godmother asked.

Cinderella turned her head. "Yes?"

"Do you happen to have a pumpkin?" the fairy godmother asked. "A big one would be great."

Cinderella raised an eyebrow. "A pumpkin?"

"Ooh!" Aubrey exclaimed with pure excitement. "To-to make a carriage!"

The fairy godmother turned toward Aubrey. "How did you- oh. A reader."

"A reader?" Cinderella asked.

The godmother whirled around. "Nothing, dearie. Can you go get the pumpkin and meet us outside?"

"Um, okay?" Cinderella led the horses outside and gave Aubrey one last look before exiting the room.

Once Cinderella was gone, the fairy godmother tensed up and faced Aubrey. "What are you doing here?"

"Uh, I-" Aubrey found no reason to lie, so she told her the truth," Me and my sister got sucked into a book."

"Did the book have blank pages?" the fairy godmother tightened her grip on her wand.

Aubrey paused and thought. "Yes, it did."

"Was there a mirror?" she asked.

Aubrey nodded.

The fairy godmother put her palm onto her face. She murmured," Cassandra, Cassandra. I told you to keep it safe."

Cassandra?

"Cassandra." Aubrey mused. "That's my mom's name!" Aubrey exclaimed.

The fairy godmother snapped," Of course it is! I'm her mother!"

Aubrey shrunk back from the shock of her sudden meanness.

"Dearie, I'm sorry. But, we need to find you another way to get out of here. And did you say you had a sister?" the godmother apologized.

Aubrey regained her emotions. She took a deep breath and replied," Yes. Tabitha."

"That makes the problem much harder." the fairy godmother pursed her lips. "Now we have to get you and your sister in the same story."

Cinderella came back inside. "The pumpkin is ready!"

"But let's talk later," Aubrey said before walking outside. The fairy godmother saw no other reason but to follow.

Outside, there was a beautiful garden, blooming with roses and tulips. A cobble path winded around the garden. The four stallions awaited on the dirt path. Behind them, sat a pumpkin that looked like it could swallow both Aubrey and Cinderella. It's orange coppery shell gleamed brightly in the sunset.

"One big pumpkin, check." Cinderella wiped the dust off her hands.

"Thank you , dearie." the godmother thanked her. She waved her wand once again. The gold sparkles danced around the pumpkin. And with a satisfying puff of purple dust, the pumpkin was replaced with a pure white carriage.

Aubrey walked near it. She could feel the warmth and welcome the carriage presented. She placed her hand on the walls of the carriage. Gold swirls decorated the white walls. The wheels were pure silver. And she finally notices a man holding the reins on the top of the carriage on a golden single seater.

"Oh wow! Thank you!" Cinderella squealed as she embraced the fairy godmother. The fairy godmother's shoulders jumped up slightly, but she calmed down.

She then whispered," But it was really Aubrey you should thank, dearie."

Cinderella gazed into Aubrey's pink eyes. "Thank you."

"And you can also take her to the ball." the godmother added.

"And I would definitely do so. But her dress..." Cinderella looked at Aubrey's tattered dress. Aubrey took a step forward, but felt a sharp pain in her ankle and crumpled to the floor.

"Oh my gosh!" Cinderella went on her knees and did a quick check to Aubrey's ankle. "It's sprained."

"I'm fine," Aubrey stood up once again, leaning on her good foot.

"Can you heal it?" Cinderella asked the fairy godmother who looked deep in thought. "I can, but girls, this magic will only last until the clock strikes twelve."

The godmother gave her wand a spin, and the fragments of light zoomed into Aubrey's ankle, and the roaring pain deceased.

"And your new dress is inside the carriage and... oh, I almost forgot." the fairy godmother gave her wand a spin, and Cinderella's leather shoes turned into crystal clear glass slippers. "There you go, dearie. And please, return before the clock strikes twelve."