Anastasia's happly ever after.

Cinderella got her happy ending, and we got punished for our almost possible; so close; to take attempt to get me to marry the prince ,even though I was wearing the face of my step sister. I do have to admit Cinderella isn’t as bad as I thought her to be. The only reason she had luck on her side was because she was a good person at heart. And we had been so wrong to try to take her happiness away. But even though I don’t think I have amended from this incident, Cinderella claims I have .That in the end I did the right thing, and that love will come to me in the good of my heart. “But that to come true Anastasia, you most treat people fair and know that you aren‘t the only one with needs. ”She had said to me over and over again ,every time I asked what I could do to find what I have longed for. She did ask me once what I would have done if the curse on the prince wasn’t broken, would I have gone threw with it? I answered in the most honest way possible, “ I would have eventually , but you made me realize that I wasn‘t going to be happy with some one that didn‘t love the real me .” She had smiled at me and had walked me back to the kitchen where my mother and sister Dizella were cleaning the kitchen floors. 1

The look on her face said it all, I would have imagined she would wear a smile or a smirk on her face but she didn’t, her face now twisted in pain. I could tell it reminded her of the time she spent cleaning making food and catering to our every wish. She never liked it I would imagine but neither would I if I were in her shoes. Her shoes , how cruel we had been , with the clothes we made her wear and the things we made her do. She was more of a maid to us then she was ever a sister, and I regret it all. Like she says , the past is in the past and all we could do is change our ways now for the future then worry about what should have been done in the past. But no matter how hard I try I can not let myself be forgiven, I know that it wasn’t just me who had acted in this horrible way , that It as my mother and sister to, but I couldn’t let it go. We were close to destroying Cinderella and for what ,some thing fake? Some thing my mother could benefit from and me not at all? I guess It was pointless to refer to the past like Cinderella had said, and the right thing to do was just pay the time due for our actions and get it over with. I was lucky though , my brave confession at the wedding made it possible for Cinderella to forgive me. And I knew she had forgiven my mother and sister too. But the king was so offended that he said the least he could do is have us serve time in the palace as servants . Cinderella had begged to just let us go, but he just said we would be treated fairly but as long as we were punished. She had taken my case in harder then she did with the two women that I could not possibly consider family after all that has happened. She had asked that I was assigned to be her maiden and that I was to be with her at all times. But the king refused but made an exception with no more then just clean up after Cinderella and do as I was told. But soon after to report to the kitchen for further instructions. Cinderella had been upset for some time but, she was a cheerful person , she could never stay mad for a long time. Actually she was never angry, not even once was she ever angry.2

“Ah look the princess is back, it‘s not far that she doesn‘t have to get on her knees and clean these discussing floors,” Dizella Whined. I looked away , I wasn’t upset about how bad they had it, I was some what glade in a way you would not imagine. My mother hadn’t even looked at me as I came in. She was still mad that I had disobeyed her and ruined HER happy ending. I walked passed her with out even a look at her. She placed her right wrinkled ,withered hand on my flawless shoulder, that made me stop with a small grunt coming from the bottom of my throat. “Anastasia, what do you plan to do about this?” She gestured her hands around the room, “Are we to live like this when you have it better then we do? You must find a way to get us out of here and maybe I might consider finding you another prince we can have you marry. Unless you plan to steal Cinderella’s precious prince once again. ” She smiled at my expression and continued with her plan, “If we do try again we must eliminate Cinderella Permanently but of course - ” 3

“NO!” I shouted . How could she even consider that, after all that has happened. We had about a week before we could go back home and be liberated from our sentence, and she was thinking to do this again, not on my watch. “Are you joking, not even if I had to be a slave for the rest of my life will I ever do that to Cinderella again.” I said walking away from my mother. “So will it be if you don‘t listen to what I have to offer.” I halted to a stop, this was going to be interesting to hear. I didn’t even turn to face her and she went on with her wishful thinking, or was that just me? “You can have her life , her fortune , her prince, everything she holds in the palm of her hand can belong to you. Of course you will have to pay up for my help but you won‘t miss the amount I‘m asking for.” My mouth hung wide open , could she really, no I couldn’t let myself think that way. She couldn’t , we both knew that. I walked out of the kitchen not bothering to answer. I imagined she would be smiling at the thought of me thinking about the possibility. 4

I couldn’t lie to myself , I was thinking about it , I wanted to be happy like Cinderella but not in the way my mother saw it. Maybe we could leave and find another kingdom and I could marry a prince there. Have the life my step sister had , with everything that came with the prince the flaws the perfections , and talents. But what my mother asked for , I would never be happy not with her ruling beside me, as my second in command. My mother was always the villain in the story and me an Dizella were always the henchmen to her evil deeds. I was sick of it I wanted to be the girl that gets saved by the handsome guy, at this point I didn’t care if he was a prince or not. I just wanted love and happiness, that wasn’t to much to ask for. I walked threw the large golden doors that lead to the living room, I didn’t know were I was going I just needed a place to think. I was now in the grand hall way toward the front entrance, what better place for quite and peace then the garden. It was off limits to the employees, but I was giving privilege in going in and out of the garden of course only Cinderella and the prince knew I was able to go in the garden because they said I could only if no one caught me. He was only just the prince not yet the king so he couldn’t quit order things around till his father gave up the crown and announced him king. But of all that I have learned from my mother would have to be sneaking around , that might have been the only good thing I learned from her. I walked down the path as if I was going the long way to the back were the delivery boys stocked up the kitchen. This wasn’t the first time I came here alone, this was always the place were nobody thought to come, so it was always deserted. I whirled around the yellow roses and skipped toward the lilies and came to a bench were both Cinderella and I came to speak about were I would live when our time was served. I was afraid of going home with THAT women, I didn’t want to be the one on my knees cleaning and cooking and doing everything she asked me to do , because I went against her wishes. In any case I would stay in the palace with Cinderella , she had promised me that even though I didn’t deserve it. I was grateful but know what would I do if I did do what my mother offered, I knew she would never stop bugging me about it and she would never give up. 5

I sat down on the beautifully crafted white bench and looked up at the blue sky and how it shined on the horizon. I thought of all the things that could become of my life, if I were to choose with my mother or I were to choose with my new sister. How was I going to get out of this one, my hole life seemed to revolve around misfortune. I was an unfortunate soul and I didn’t know how to undo this. And even if I could get through this I wouldn’t be able to do it on my own. What I needed right now was the love of a mother and the wisdom of a father. I really never knew what had happened to my father, all we know is that we weren’t allowed to talk about him, and my step father was as good as a father could get. But at the time of course Cinderella wasn’t the slave of the house, we were treated equally , but with a little less adoration he gave her. But now I know why , she was his blood she wasn’t a spoiled little girl that got everything she asked for. No, she was a giving person, always them before herself the way I should have been , how both my sister and I should have been . Like I said before she is a good person at heart. But I was sure that I would have Cinderella’s support , so really I was going to be ok.6

“Excuse me,” a kind but hard voice spoke from the corner of the garden, were there stood a tall young man. Seeming to be about 20 to 19 years old, broad wide shoulders, chin held high, with brown blond hair , and to me it looked like his eyes were a bright green with a hint of gray. But the way he was dress said that he wasn’t a prince, he wasn’t middle class , but the lower class. His face said him to be very rich , maybe a son of a duke. But no I had see him before, or the back of his head at the most. Most time I was with Cinderella and not in the kitchen, the one time I was there I had been upset about something pointless, and had not noticed him. I had never heard him speak, and now that I have I was surprised on how sweet he sounded. I was getting ahead of myself, I didn’t even know him.7

I turned my body to face him, stood up with a quick glance behind me. There was a good distance between us and I was sure I could ran. But judging from him long legs , he would have pined to the ground with no effort. I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out , I cleared my throat thinking he would say something but all he did was look at me. I couldn’t understand the look on his face, I knew I wasn’t the most beautiful thing, specially compared to this beautiful garden but he didn’t show disgust or dislike. More of confusion and amazement then what I thought he would show, that’s what I couldn’t understand . No one , I mean no one had ever looked at me that way, But I was probably imaging it like most things. 8

My throat felt like I had swallowed a big gum ball and it had gotten stuck in my throat. I put that aside gulped in a mouth full of air and …. 9

“Ha ha, are you choking my lady?” He asked before I could even let my breath out. Why did he think of me as funny, I hadn’t done anything amusing, just same old breathing. I was upset, were was his manners, “Do you not have manners boy? I am not choking I‘m breathing, both you and me do it everyday. How is it amusing?” I said with acid in every bit of those words. He stopped laughing and knelt down on one knee and gestured his head to bend as well. He spoke again with his iron , feather like voice, “I‘m sorry my lady, I was just pointing out the way you made your face look as if you were trying to say something, but could not get come out.” He paused to look at my expression, and started again, “If I have offended you , please don‘t spare me, you are but right of my manners. I should know better then to speak to a women as pretty as yourself in that way.”10

Did I hear right, did he just say I was pretty? Man was this guy out of his mind, his eyes seemed to be intact, he was staring at my shocked expression that I wore as my face. He came forward to catch me, I hadn’t noticed that I was crippling I was in a trance of shock and disbelief. He had caught me by an inch of the ground , I was still in shock but with some what of my sense back. He looked at me with worry and asked, “Are you ok , My lady?” I shook my head and said, “I will be, and call me Anastasia.” His face lightened up and with a smile he pulled me up right so all my weight was in his arms. He was holding me in his arms and setting me down on the bench. 11

“Finally you tell me your name, it suits you . Any way are you well enough to walk or would you like me to carry you to your home.” It didn’t sound like a question more like a statement. Who was this guy, and why was I being so , so , uh the words wouldn’t even form to what I was being. I looked up at him, but to catch him starring at me as if he had seen a beautiful maiden walking down the gorgeous staircase of a big castle . I thought a how Cinderella looked the day of the ball and picture the prince’s expression, the expression of a shock of beauty, but that couldn’t be what I saw. “May, may I ask your name?” I said with my voice breaking here and there. He hid a smile behind his word, “You just did, I‘m Eric Petén, nice to meet you!” I giggled at his name, for a sure fact he wasn’t royalty, and his fathers name wasn’t known. He laughed with me and then stopped to take a look at my face again. “Will you like to go or are you still enjoying your time laughing,” he said with a giggle. I stood up; afraid he might try to pick me up with out being asked to do so. I skipped on in front of him and looked at the ground embarrassed by what I was going to say. “No but you can walk me home if you like?” I sounded like a desperate winch who had no money and no were to life. And to my sad circumstances that was exactly who I was forced into being; that is, if I choice to follow my mother in to the darkness. I looked away from him afraid he might suspect I was thinking about planning to get rid of Cinderella. I could dream couldn’t I, I had a right! 12

While I was in my own little world , Eric stepped to my side and began to walk. “If you want to get home any time soon you might want to lead.” He said with a smile that could kill. I began to walk but stopped in a sudden panic, I was living in the palace as a servant. He might think I’m some kind of princess , I was in the palaces garden where we were forbidden to enter, unless tolled to do so. I bit my lip feeling the pain, hoping that it might shock me out of my fear. But all it did was cause my lip to turn purple and ooze out bright, red blood. I tasted it on my tongue and soon it was every where in my mouth. He looked at my pained face and took a look of concern, he looked up at the sky in thought. “ It’s ok I have to get done with some thing’s here, so you go on without me .“ He was about to leave but paused and said, “ But don’t forget me ok?” He didn’t wait for an answer, not like he was going to get one, I was paralyzed. 13

I snapped out of my daze when I found Cinderella by my side in the garden, by the yellow roses. She most have been there for a while , because it looked like she was falling asleep. I was alert, did she drink something; my mother might have poisoned it. I shuck her with force; she woke in a flash. She looked at me in alert, then her expression fell into a mask of relief. “Oh Anastasia, you frightened me,” she said holding one to her heart. I had to be on my toes, anything could happen, but I didn’t want to tell her just yet. For one, I didn’t know how she would react to the news; two I was still not sure of myself, I might as well still be evil. 14

“ Sorry I was just checking,” I spoke in a rush. She would never know what I meant, my feet could only go so fast. I got out of there with out another word, I had to keep an eye out for her and myself. I didn’t want to turn around to see what her face read but 15

I did, it said so many thing that I never expected to see. Calmness, happiness, honor, thoughtfulness, and most strange of all; the look of a sister with a lot of love to share and give. She was making me feel like I was evil for even considering my mothers offer and it hurt more then anything. I hurried off to the kitchen , hoping that all I had to do was clean the table and turn out for the night.; not even that was left, Time went by so fast it seemed, I hadn’t noticed until I was pulled out of my trance. I walked out of the kitchen and into the servants quarters and straight to my room. It wasn’t that big, it felt like closet, I opened the door softly. In my little space there was dirty brown pull over shoes, a long white sleeve shirt ,brown skirt that dragged because it was too big for me. And last but not my favorite of all was the white long apron that of course, had dirt here and there. I sighed , from pretty long colorful dresses to this. I let my body fall dramatically to the bed, I pulled the covers over with out undressing and drifted into a dreamless sleep.-------------------------------------------------------------------16

The next day wasn’t any better then the next, at least not until Cinderella came to my closet of a room to tell me the good news. “The king says that your mom and sister can go, there sentence was shortened,” she animatedly said. “How does this help me?” I asked, how was there freedom suppose to be good news to me? She laughed a throat laugh and threw her self at me in a hug. “Your free too, you can move in to the guest room,” She was still hugging me when the message sank in. I wanted to scream with joy, even if I ended up losing my voice, it was worth it. But that soon faded when I lifted my head and opened my eyes to see two sets of legs by my door. It was my mother and Dizella, mother began to clap. “This is truly a happy scene, please don’t mind us,” her tone was beginning to anger me. 17

I let my hand drop and Cinderella immediately stood up, I was on my feet right away. I was never against my mother, always allied. From this moment on, my choice was to live with Cinderella. I didn’t have to think about it anymore, just looking at the hate my mother eyed me with had me looking into the future I had if I choose to take her proposition. 18

I stood there with a sword in my hands amid at Cinderella, we were surrounded by corpse of pedestrians. Some I recognized and others were tattered beyond being recognize. One that caught my attention was a young man, that I believed was Eric Petén. He was clenched in my mothers grasp, looking start at me with pleading eyes. My mother had a blade in her free hand and was aiming it at his throat, she let it loosely dig it’s way across his neck, he screeched with pain. His gaze never dropped from me, The blood that oozed out of his throat was pouring into and over my mothers hands. And finally his lushes greenish gray eyes closed. 19

I opened my eyes holding on to my heart, I looked over to my mother. She was smiling the smile I imagined she would have if what I pictured were to come to reality. I shuddered at the thought, I was about ready to regurgitate the nothingness of the fear I felt. Cinderella felt my body shiver, she reached over to hold my hand. When I didn’t respond she grabbed my hand and squeezed. All I could do at that moment was just stand there like a statue down the hall, and quake. 20

“There will be gold with your belongings, that should be enough; until you find work,“ Cinderella said with a strong tone that broke in the middle. She just couldn’t pull it off, she tried anyway. She set her chin in a honorary way and awaited her respond. But my mother just looked at me, never dropping her gaze. I recognized that look, it was the same look she gave Cinderella the night of the ball. I shuddered even more, the sick feeling I had was making It’s debut. I was already on the floor vomiting stomach acid, Cinderella knelt down to hold my hair out of the spew. My mother smiled and my sister held her hand up to her nose, they walked away with nothing more said. 21

After the vomiting was over ;he crying began to happen. I was still shivering with fear, I looked up at Cinderella thinking ‘ why waste your time on me’. But no matter how much I wanted to tell her , I just could get them past all the sobbing. At least that was my excuse , my denial. I began to get my sense back and the sobs turned to hick-ups. Cinderella had lead me to the kitchen , we were drinking tea; neither of us spoke. She stood up, I looked at her face which caught my attention. Her eye brows were pulled down, her mouth was in a straight line, and her jaw was set in an angry manner. 22

Before I knew it she was out of the room with out explanations, to my luck people started to come in and out of the kitchen. Cleaning here and cooking there, none of them looked at me, they just passed as if I weren’t there. I hung my head low so they couldn’t see the tears, soon there was a hand that nestled my face . 23

“Sweet heart, there is no reason a pretty young thing like your self should be crying over. Just look at your self in the mirror and you will see what you seek,” It was the elder that was always in and out of the palace. She was a beautiful women, the years she carried hadn’t caught up with her yet. She had a heart shaped face with creases covering nothing ,but visible. Her eye brows were in a high stance, that complemented her cheek bones and eyes of withered yellow rose; amber black. Her lips were full; not so much lush. Her shoulders were brood with worry, and her posture was filled with vertigo. I stood up at once and gestured her to sit, she laughed and pushed me back to be seated. “Honey, you need it more then this old bird,” she twittered. She proceeded to leave but turned to say one last thing, “ Lady Petén, if you need anything; see what you seek.” I was puzzled but was to up set to care. I played with her name in my head while I sat there in the doom my day. ‘What a funny name’ thinking about it I came to realize Eric’s last name was Petén. “Stock Boy,” I yelled not realizing people were looking at me. I briskly walked toward the direction the old bird headed, it was only a few seconds that we talked; she shouldn’t be far. I looked all over the palace thinking, ‘ Oh I’ll bump into her.’ The palace was so big she might have already left, as I back tracked; I was pulled by servants toward the guest room Cinderella mentioned earlier, where I would be staying. 24

I was bombarded with dresses and shoes, Servant playing with how to dress my hair. When the pulling a pushing commands stopped, I was shoved in front of a mirror. I looked closely wondering who that was, starring back at me in wonder. It wasn’t who I thought it was, but I wanted it to be. I waved the servants to leave, politely; they closed the door behind them. Tears started to wall up in my eyes, a lump was stuck in my throat. The room was silent, all I could hear was my heavy breathing. The voice rang in my ear like an alarm; “just look at your self in the mirror and you will see what you seek.” It hummed louder, I turned to see if there was someone in here with me. All I saw was the lavender double doors that were as before, there was no one there but me and the stranger that held my face. I closed my eyes tightly, and the words faded. 25

I opened my eyes again and looked at the alien that looked at me with the same sad look. This couldn’t be me, and it couldn’t be me. I stood up with out a second glance out the doors. I strolled through the castle, ended up in the garden once more. I sat on the bright green grass this time, I wasn’t out here to think or to cry but to let my mind run free. 26

‘Slush, slush’ I heard steps behind me, I didn’t turn around; already guess who it might be. I turned to my head to smile at my thought to be Eric, to my surprise it was the king. He sat next to me with blank expression, he looked up at the sky with a gleam of light in his eyes. I felt weight on my neck which held the sea shell he had given me when I was to be married to his son. You all know how that went, I held on to it lightly. He glanced at my gesture and smiled but didn’t leave his gaze. 27

“My dear, no need to question yourself. You are who you are, and what ever you have done in the past, remains in the past,” He spoke with wisdom spilling over the words. He then stood up and gently padded my shoulder, then left me to my thoughts. Even though he was right, I just didn’t know how to be me. I didn’t want to think about it, so I pushed it to the back of my head for later. 28

I dozed off and ended up falling asleep, I was awaken by the air bourn feel of my body off the ground. I felt arms carrying me, I opened my eyes to Eric carrying me. I tried to wiggle out of his hold, with no luck he tightened his hold on me. When I stopped throwing a fit, he finally got me to my room. He let me down weightlessly onto the seat that was placed in front of the mirror. 29

“Sorry, but you could have caught a cold if I let you sleep out side,” he smiled. I wasn’t mad , just not use to men carrying me anywhere. I didn’t say anything, if I did it would give my hidden blush away. “Tell you what, how about I take you on a date, just to make it up to you,” he said with a smug smile. I turned so I was facing him, there was something about him that screamed at me, TRUST HIM! I Turned my face away from his site, as my blush betrayed me and nodded yes.-------------------------------------------------------------------