The Step-Sister

Once Upon a Time

     Once upon a time, there lived a noble's daughter, who was raised by her doting father. The girl's father, Alexander, was a kind and gentle man, who would not see what a monstrosity he was raising until it was almost too late. The moment Alexander realized what a spoiled brat his daughter was turning out to be was when he got a report from his daughter's school explaining in no uncertain terms that his daughter Cinderella was, "A disruptive influence, mean tempered, spoiled rotten, and has caused more that three teachers to burst into tears." He realized then that perhaps raising a daughter on his own was not how parenthood was supposed to work.

      He searched for a suitable wife and mother far and wide, sometimes traveling far beyond the borders of the kingdom. He regretted leaving Cinderella alone for so long until he spotted a woman in a black mourning dress walking home from the market. The lovely lady was struggling to carry her child and the basket full of goods. Alexander, a chivalrous man, offered to carry the little girl though she looked too old to be carried. He quieted the shameful thought when he asked the widow, Eliza, about it. Ella, her daughter, had been born with a crippled foot. Ella could still walk, but each step was painful for the darling little girl.

     Alexander courted Eliza for a year, almost forgetting that he had a daughter at home. Eliza, soon fell in love with Alexander because of his charming and kind ways. Ella came to love Alexander as well (mostly because he brought Ella treats), and Alexander was head over heels for both Eliza and Ella.

     Eliza and Alexander never broached the topic of marriage, but five-year old Ella knew how to push things along. "When are you going to marry my mom?" Ella asked Alexander innocently one day.

     Eliza was not in the room, so Alexander replied with a smile, "As soon as I know that your mother wants to marry me."

     "But she does want to marry you," Ella said confused, "you're all she talks about." Alexander smiled and ran straight to Eliza, he wasted no time with words and planted his lips gently on Eliza's, wrapping his free arm around her. When Alexander finally pulled away Eliza seemed shocked, and he looked extremely embarrassed. 

     "I'm sorry," he murmured, and went to the front room to get his coat. Alexander was halfway down the road when Eliza finally caught up to him.

     "I've been waiting a long time for that kiss, don't you dare run away from me now." She said with a forcefulness that would've surprised everyone who knew her. 

     Alexander sent for his daughter, Cinderella, right away. Neither, Alexander nor Eliza had any family besides their daughters, so only the closest of friends were invited. Alexander and Eliza were married the next week in the local church. They sent Cinderella and Ella to live in Alexander's estate with the housekeeper until their parents came back from the honeymoon.

     Life looked wonderful, and for two perfect weeks, it was. Alas, all flowers fade, some more quickly than others. The two little girls cried for days when word arrived that the newlywed couple had been attacked by bandits on their way home. Only Eliza made it out alive, but not without a serious injury, a broken heart. She had seen her new husband killed right before her eyes, and that kind of disaster does strange things to people. 

     Eliza spent all her time in bed grieving, and only gave a small amount of attention to the world around her. She often called out to Alexander, only to discover, once again, that he was dead. Oftener still were the cries of Ella calling out to her mother, only to discover, once again, that her mother was as good as dead.

     While Eliza was sick, Cinderella did everything she could to make Ella's life a living nightmare. Cinderella kicked Ella, stole from Ella, mocked Ella, and told her that she was nothing. After a while Ella came to believe what Cinderella was telling her, that she was nothing, no one. Cinderella was eventually able to convince Ella that she was just a servant. Ella tried to go to her mother, but her mother didn't really live in reality anymore.

     It went on like that for 13 long years. Eliza was not living, having succumbed to a broken heart a year earlier. Ella, now 18, was transformed completely into a scullery maid, and a personal punching bag for Cinderella, who was now 20, but still an evil 6 year old at heart. Ella was never able to get away because no one else would employ her because of her deformed foot and because her mother's grave was located on the property...

     Until one fateful day when a letter arrived from the castle, Announcing the Prince's 21st birthday, but most importantly, announcing a ball in which every eligible young lady was commanded to attend.