“A castle? Why are we going to a castle?” You wonder, gawking at the towering edifice dominating the horizon. Ivory towers reach high into the sky, and banners wave in the wind at every rooftop. It bears little resemblance to the castles you know about from history, too polished, too colorful, more mini-golf than gothic.
“That’s where the ball is being held.”
You turn to the fairy hovering next to you. “A ball? Like a dance ball? How do you know?”
The fairy blinks. “I-I‘m not sure. When you asked, the knowledge just came to me. It’s like somebody else’s memories are right there for me to access if I concentrate on it.“
“That’s…kind of disturbing,” you mutter. “So, what kind of ball is this? Cuz I don’t think I’m dressed for a formal occasion. Or any medieval setting for that matter.”
Your friend starts speaking slowly, revealing information as it comes to her. “The king declared that the kingdom would be having a ball, and all eligible young maidens are to attend in the hopes that the prince would find a bride.”
A light bulb goes off. “You mean, like Cinderella.”
“Exactly. It’s just like Cinderella. In fact, I seem to be the fairy godmother. Well, not really a godmother, but the fairy part is still valid. And my name is…May? Huh, that's new. My name is supposed to be...um...May.” The fairy shakes her head and gives you an apologetic smile. “Sorry, it’s just coming to me in pieces. I’m just as confused as you are. I just know that the story is happening right now.”
You inspect your surroundings. “And that explains the pumpkin carriage. But where’s Cinderella?”
Your fairy companion, May, glances at you, her eyes going wide. “Uh-oh.”
“What?” You ask, though an inkling starts to tickle the back of your mind. Determined to ignore it, you play dumb, hoping it would prove to be wrong.
Despite your efforts, your fear is confirmed.
“It’s you! You’re Cinderella!”