To believe that all people are born evil is a folly, and something only someone with a rotten heart can say out loud and not feel bad about it. Not everyone is cursed with dark genes and even those that are, can rise above them and become a symbol of hope and perseverance. There are exceptions, of course.

Ever since the onset of her life, the woman now known as Mistress Tatiana knew she was not a good person and that didn’t worry her one bit. Much to the contrary, she had learned to cultivate her inner wickedness to better achieve her aspirations. To her, no scheme was atrocious, no action should inspire regret. The only thing she abhorred was the idea of getting caught and seeing hers and her children’s future crumble into dust. That wouldn’t happen, no matter the cost.

While not her only hope for everlasting success, the Royal Ball was still a major driving force for all she still hoped to accomplish. Securing one of her daughter’s position in the court was synonymous with financial stability and the opportunity to wield extra power from the shadows. Unlike her, both Prudence and Drusilla lacked the wits to navigate the meandering political corridors, but not to worry. She was there to do what they couldn’t: negotiating alliances on their behalf and separating friends from foes. Sometimes, they were the same.

Such was the case of the Count of Montparnasse, a conniving mid-fifties man with puffed cheeks and an unflattering potbelly who had been with one foot in the grave far too many times already, yet continued to defy the Grim Reaper at every turn. He was one of the King’s most trusted advisors as well as the prince’s. Married twice, he had divorced both wives in a not-amicable fashion after being caught cheating on them with horny stable boys. As much as he loved to have his cock fucked by ample bosoms, no pleasure compared to having a younger man’s phallus inside his ass, unless he was drugged.

The Count laid on a warm bed inside his mansion, stomach down, buttocks up and exposed, feeling the warm friction of a lubricated wooden penis pounding him as if he were nothing but a hapless sack of meat. His eyes were vitreous, devoid of any kind of natural response. On the nightstand to his right, still fumigating with ill-intent, was a cup of tea.

“What news do you have for me, Count?” Mistress Tatiana continued to drill his sorry excuse for an ass with a sly smile on her lips.

“The King has made another last-minute change to the Ball’s schedule, Mistress.” He moaned.

“Oh? And what is His Majesty’s desire this time?”

“Because of an increase in the number of potential suitors, the Prince will now dance with eight different women instead of four. His official presence at the festivities has also been prolonged another hour.”

“Who are these new suitors you’re talking about and why is this the first time I’m hearing about them?” She barked at him like a rabid dog.

“Both the King of Spain and England, who had yet to confirm their presence in the event, did so yesterday, and they are bringing an entourage with them. Princess Ana and Princess Camilla will dispute the Prince’s attention, hoping to secure a profitable arrangement for all parties involved.”

“Hm... that may be a problem.” Tatiana stopped the sexual onslaught, giving her poor servant some time to breathe. “How fair are these princesses?”

“Camilla is nothing special apart from her hips, but Ana is considered the most beautiful woman in the Iberian Peninsula. If she catches the Prince’s eye, I don’t see how your daughters can hope to compete.”

“Then you must make sure that doesn’t happen, don’t you?”

“Me? Mistress, what I’m supposed to do to stop it? Once the dance begins, my influence ends.”

“Then don’t let her go to the ball. I’m sure the Princess has her weaknesses, perhaps there’s something she’s deadly allergic to?”

“Yes, there is, but I can’t...” 

“Yes, you can.” She resumed the thrusting motions, the wooden head impaling his feeble attempts to deny her. “You can, and you will. You don’t need to kill her, of course, just make sure she’s out of commission. The fewer distractions on the Prince’s mind, the better, don’t you agree?”

“Yes, Mistress.” He clawed his hands on the sides of the bed, sure that meddling in royal affairs like that would spell the death of him if he wasn’t careful. Still, anything for her and the mindless pleasure of her spiked brews. Feeling his butt cheeks turning red, he grinned into oblivion.

* * *

Meanwhile, Prudence and Drusilla were on a new shopping spree with Ellen in tow. It was the first time since forever that the young girl had been allowed to take a running water bath and put on other clothes that didn’t make her look like a walking scarecrow. With a midsize frilly pink dress and her clean hair wrapped in a ponytail, she no longer felt out of place in the bustling streets.

Three hours had passed since Mistress Tatiana had forced her to embrace her slavish side again, the sound of her own meek voice droning out the same mantras still reverberating inside her soul, and yet, a solitary spark of defiance remained whenever she had to walk three steps behind her “owners” or saw other women standing proud, unafraid of anything or anyone that dared to say they were not good enough. A fleeting image of the Fairy Godmother was always with her, hovering just one step away from the threshold of consciousness.

The sisters were as insufferable as ever that late morning, driving anyone that tried to reason with them mad with a few simple growls and sidelong looks. Keeping to herself, Ellen shrugged as they continued to turn away beautiful garments because they were too bright, too dull, too tight or too heavy... Not all excuses worked and patience was running on fumes for everyone involved..

One moment, when no one was looking, the servant slipped away from the crowded store to seek the quietness of a nearby alley. A cat that reminded her of “Skinny” meowed angrily as she invaded her spot before vanishing into a pile of trash chasing a fat, juicy rat. Silence welcomed her like a loving mother welcomes her children, cool air drawing from her lungs. She was tired.

Before anyone noticed her absence, she pushed deeper into the alley, a foul stench rising from the sewer lines. From the corner of her right eye, she saw something blue coming her way no one else could see. It was her again, the iridescent riding crop drawing a protective bubble around them.

“Is this another dream, Cinderella?”

“No, my dear, it’s not. It’s all real but don’t worry, you’re safe.” She pointed at the orb of magic enveloping them. “As long as this is in place, no one can see or hear us.”

“Why did you follow me, here?”

“I didn’t. I only followed your heart’s desire just like you should be doing.”

“Will you please stop talking like that?”

“Like what, Ellen?”

“Like... like you’re one of those circus fortune-tellers or something.”

“People called me many things in the past, but I believe that’s a new one. I don’t mind it though, especially the circus part. Circuses are fun and bring out joy in people. There’s room for all that in your life, too.”

“That same old story again?”

“It’s one you still need to hear. The fissures are growing but you’re not convinced yet. Allow me to show you something that might help you change your mind.”

“What is it this time?”

“Please watch.”

The Fairy Godmother touched her right shoulder, and they were both propelled simultaneously across Space and Time, human projectiles of a cosmic slingshot that could reach every corner of the Universe no matter how remote. Before she realized what had happened, Ellen hovered over a luxurious bed, staring down at the Count’s ass and its voracious appetite for thick cocks.

“What the...? Where have you brought me? Why are you showing me this?”

“We’re at the house of the Count of Montparnasse. His family has been friends with the Court since its inception and the King values his judgment above pretty much everyone else’s. The Count himself was once a friend of your father’s before being turned into the sycophantic pathetic excuse of a man you see now. Recognize your dear stepmother? This is but a fraction of what she continues to do to anyone she deems useful for her nefarious plans. I told you before you have all the answers you need within you and I maintain that but now I have a question for you: knowing this, is this the type of behavior you wish to condone? How many more must suffer and be exploited on behalf of her torturous delusions?”

“Are you saying this... abomination... is my fault?”

“No, of course not. You’re not to blame for what others do, only for your actions when confronted with the truth. No one is responsible for fixing all the inequalities of the world but if everyone ignores them...”

“... nothing ever gets done and everything remains the same?”

“Exactly. Sometimes, all it takes for the world to change is for one person to rise. Tatiana is a vindictive woman who sadly wishes to continue to spread her blight everywhere. This is only the beginning. Trust me, you don’t want to see the end.”

“I think I’ve seen enough.” Ellen flinched as the fake cock rammed the poor man’s cheeks one last time. “Can we please go now?”

“As you wish.”

Cinderella held her companion’s shoulder once more and returned them to the origin. The black cat was still chasing its prey when they touched the ground. The time passed between each moment was so minimal it was almost non-existent.

“That was weird.” Ellen crouched, gastric juices rushing to her lips. “Nice trick, but let’s never do that again, please.”

“My apologies. I’d forgotten how taxing it is for a newbie to travel like this, but I hope the experience proved my point. You need to be your parent’s child and leave your own mark in this world. Your ascension is also her demise so let’s kill two birds with one stone.”

“You ask too much of a poor young girl like me, fairy.”

“Unlike others, I only ask what I know you can give. What do you say, Ellen? Shall we go to the Royal Ball and start living for the future?”

Ellen wiped a hint of bile from her lips and asked: “We? As in you and I, together?”

“Figure of speech. I won’t be dancing of course - I was never very good at it - but I’ll be there to see you live up to your potential and further.”

“It’s invitation only. How am I supposed to get in?”

“After everything you’ve seen, do you still need to ask? Leave it all to me. I’ll meet you again after nightfall when everyone else is asleep. Until then, the only thing you should worry about is what type of dress you wish to wear during the celebration, okay? See you soon, my dear.”

The world phased into itself and she was alone again, thinking: “Am I really doing this?” Yes, she was. The wheels of destiny were already turning, each spin bringing her closer to a manifestation of self that no longer wished to embrace the shadows. As quietly as she had left, she walked back inside the store where her two “stepsisters” engaged in senseless verbal disputes about which one of them looked better in a god-awful red balloon attire and smiled. Invisibility had its perks, and so did being taken for granted. With a renewed disposition, she waited for the sun to set.

* * *

A once lazy, full moon shone brightly on the manor’s garden when the fairy and her protege were reunited once more. The former had exchanged her more extravagant outfit for something sober, a simple black drape that hid all her curves. When asked what was up with the almost funereal get-up, her answer was shockingly candid:

“Tonight, you’re the one who gets to shine, Ellen, not me. Have you settled on something yet?”

“Are you really going to make new clothes appear out of thin air?”

“Something like that, yes.”

“Now, that’s a power I wouldn’t mind having.”

“Perhaps, in time. What will it be, dear?”

“Can I see how I would look like in that first dress of yours?”

“Say no more.” Cinderella waved the jeweled crop, raining magic all around, and the ugly brainwashed duckling became a beautiful and sexy latex-clad swan who could do no wrong. “Dare I say you look positively ravishing?”

“It’s itchy... and hot. God, why is it so hot? I can’t breathe in this thing! Help!”

“Something lighter, then.” A spiraling glow enveloped her, turning the tight fabric into a wonderful rendition of satin just like the dream she had the night before. “Better?”

“Much better, but what about the shoes?”

“May I offer a suggestion?”

“Of course.”

“I was thinking about something bold, kind of like... this.”

A pair of clear lace-up front ankle boots with crystal heels and spiraling rhinestones manifested at her petite feet, a powerful fashion statement no one had ever seen before. 

“Oh wow, these are just glorious! Can I really have them?”

“You can have anything you set your mind to.” Cinderella pointed the crop at the pumpkin patch to their right and said: “Now, this brings back memories...”

“What do you mean?”

“I rode one of these when it was my time but you deserve something even better.”

“What can be better than a pumpkin carriage?”

“I think I know...” Cinderella called “Skinny” out of his favorite hiding place with a promise of fresh meat and then...

... multi-colored beams of light danced in and out of its fur. In a flash, he became ten times his original size, elongated paws bleeding the earth with their raw potency. Yellow eyes sparkled in recognition of the grandeur that had always been there as the majestic panther roared to the endless night.

“I don’t think anyone will forget your entrance if you show up riding this, do you?”

Never in her lifetime or all the other ones yet to come. It was the most beautiful realization ever, and it would only become better once the party started. Bathed in spellbinding moonlight, the two women knew their time of glory was finally at hand.