An ill-treated maiden by day, a rebel by night— Cinderella caught herself daydreaming about the Prince yet again. She was still surprised that the Prince had paid attention to her in the first place. “Is this even real life?” she wondered. It felt too good to be true.
Cinderella spent her time doing chores she was forced to do— her days passed by in a flash. Then came the nights, which she’d wait for restlessly. It all started while she was out to collect firewood and awkwardly bumped into the Prince. As much as Cinderella valued modesty, she couldn’t deny that the Prince struggled to take his eyes off her that night. Ever since, she would sneak out to meet him every evening. However, she had only 15 minutes with him before her stepsisters got suspicious. If Anastasia and Drizella did end up wary, they would tattle to Lady Tremaine, Cinderella’s stepmother. This life was still thrilling to Cinderella, though. Even 15 minutes with Prince Charming made her feel like the universe was finally on her side. Somehow, being with him felt like she was floating in the air and that her feet were firm on the ground— both simultaneously.
One evening, Cinderella went out to collect firewood and waited patiently at their usual spot for the Prince. When he arrived on his horse, he kissed her and then handed her a red rose. Under the moonlit sky, just the Prince and Cinderella— it felt like a romance novel had come to life.
Albeit the intimate moments with the Prince brought Cinderella a sense of calm, she couldn’t ignore reality forever. Time was ticking, and so she left. Little did Cinderella know; her perfect night was about to get a lot more complicated. She was late. Her stepsisters had turned her room upside down. Lady Tremaine then proceeded to question her endlessly. As if it was a crime to have a life outside of serving her stepmother!
Suddenly, Cinderella left her fantasy world. Reality hit her like a million bricks in the face. “How will this work? What was I thinking? I could never end up with the Prince. All I was destined for is to be a slave to Lady Tremaine.” And so, just like that, she decided. She would lurk away one last time to bid the Prince goodbye.
That night, Cinderella waited for the Prince. She had imagined the conversation playing out a hundred times already. When he arrived, she took a deep breath and said, “ This is the last time you’ll see me. I’m not a princess. We will never end up together. You deserve better.” The Prince was dumbfounded. “Cinderella, it doesn’t matter that you aren’t a princess. I love you. The Kingdom’s Grand ball is in a fortnight. I’d like you to accompany me.” Dismayed, Cinderella shook her head in response. “I could never attend the ball.” The Prince insisted, “Cinderella, please… just promise me you’ll think about it.” Hesitantly, she agreed and then quickly left to make it home in time.
The Prince continued to stroll through the woods alongside his horse, struggling to keep himself together. He felt like there was a cloud hanging above him. A while later, he found himself in the middle of nowhere. As he was about to turn around, he spotted a huge rectangular wooden object surrounded by seven tiny men a few metres away. Giving in to his curiosity, the Prince moved closer. He then realised it was a coffin, and the small men were dwarfs. They seemed delighted to see him and didn’t waste time on greetings. Instead, they chanted, “Prince! It’s Princess Snow White. You’re the only one who can save her life. Kiss her!” He was quickly compelled— after all, it was princess Snow White from the neighbouring Kingdom, whose life was at stake.
So, the Prince kissed her. Moments later, she was gasping for air and reached out into his arms. Snow White said, “Thank you so much, dear Prince. How will I ever repay you?” The Prince was immediately smitten. He realised instantaneously, Snow White’s name was a testament to her aura. She did remind him of snow — just like snow can blanket the earth, her energy blanketed the air around him.
Before he could process what he was saying, the words slipped right out of his mouth. “Will you do me the honour of attending our Kingdom’s Grand ball?” Snow White agreed immediately. After all, the charming man just saved her life. She thought, “Maybe, I’ll be the Queen of this Kingdom someday.”
The Prince was then on his way back to the Castle when he realised what he had done— inviting two girls to the same ball? He knew he messed up. Yet he didn’t feel sorry. He thought out loud, “Maybe it’s just fate — two beautiful women, one lucky Prince. All I have to do is ensure Cinderella leaves before Snow White sees her. It will be a piece of cake.”
While the Prince was scheming, Cinderella miraculously decided to attend the ball. She didn’t know how it would happen, but she knew she couldn’t miss this chance. She told her best and only friends, Jaq and Gus — two little mice, about her plan. Or rather, the lack of one.
Jaq and Gus immediately ran off to the only one they knew that could help. Across the woods, they ran until they reached the small hut. They quickly narrated the story from top to bottom to Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother. Of course, she was there to save the day. She transformed Cinderella from head to toe. All Cinderella had to do was be home by midnight.
The night of the Kingdom’s grandeur ball had arrived. Cinderella wore a beautiful blue gown. Her hair was wrapped in a bow, diamond earrings dangling by her ears, and glass slippers on her feet. Cinderella was in awe of the enormous Castle. She would have gotten lost the moment she entered if it wasn’t for her Prince Charming. He greeted her as soon as she arrived, with a kiss on her glove-covered hand. Cinderella had never been to an event like this; servers everywhere with trays of food and champagne. The Prince then asked her to dance, and she agreed ecstatically.
The Prince held her close, and their eyes were locked as they swayed. He whispered in her ear, “You look beautiful, Cinderella.” Just then, Princess Snow White entered the Castle. She was greeted by members of the royal family, who seemed surprised to see her. She was puzzled— the Prince hadn’t greeted her at the entrance of the Castle like a true charming prince would. Suddenly, her eyes fell on the dance floor. To her dismay, she spotted the Prince, dancing with another woman.
Snow White was heartbroken and furious at the same time. Until then she believed the Prince was her true love, who saved her life. Her mind raced from one thought to another. Why did he call her there if his heart was set on someone else? She needed to find out who this woman was, and decided to ask the herald, who happened to be right next to her. He said her name was Cinderella. Snow White waited as she watched the Prince and Cinderella getting closer as they ate, talked, and danced the night away. When the clock was about to strike 12, Snow White saw Cinderella suddenly rush out of the Castle. She quickly ran out, following Cinderella back to her home. She thought to herself, “This woman doesn’t even use the front door to enter her own house! She doesn’t stand a chance against me, a princess.” Snow White then made her way back home, into the woods.
Snow White began to cry as soon as she reached home. He was supposed to be her Prince, but he didn’t even consider her his Princess. Instead, Cinderella was there, dancing the night away. Snow White wiped her eyes, and her gaze fell on the apple. She began to contemplate whether going into a coma would drag him back to her. It was scary for her, but she decided to give it a shot. After all, if she can’t be with him right now, maybe this might be the best option.
Grumpy stepped into the house as soon as Snow White took a bite of the apple. He ran out to call the others, and they found Snow White sprawled on the ground. Just then, Snow White’s body began to twitch. Confused, the dwarfs began to run around, wondering what they could do to help her.
“Guys, wait! Look at her!” Dopey exclaimed. They all stopped in their places and saw her, still twitching, but her skin was changing. Her skin was sagging, and the glow of her skin began to fade. When the twitching finally stopped, her eyes opened.
“Snow White, you’re old!” Sneezy yelled, before letting out a sneeze. Snow White walked towards the mirror and shrieked, before realising that the poison in the apple had worn off. It wasn’t strong enough to kill her or even put her in a coma, just strong enough to make her old.
“First, the Prince was taken from me, and now this?” Snow White exclaimed while touching her face. “I must get back at her. She can’t possibly take him from me, and expect it to be alright!”
“What’s she going on about?” Doc asked, to which all of the dwarfs shrugged and turned their attention back to Snow White. She kept mumbling “I have to get back at her,” over and over again until she yelled, “That’s it! I know just what to do!” She grabbed a basket and put a few apples in it, before placing a poisonous apple, guaranteed to turn Cinderella old, just like her. Why would the Prince go after an old goonie after all?
The sun was up in the sky, and Snow White decided that there’s no time like the present. She set out, not knowing the dwarfs were trailing behind her. When she reached the house, she stared at it for a good minute, before stepping in. Cinderella greeted her on the doorstep and invited her inside.
Finally seated with a glass of water, she held an apple out for Cinderella. The puzzled look on Cinderella’s face made her realise she must say something to convince her to take one bite.
“I have walked from a kingdom far, far away from here. I have found the best apples on my way, but this, my darling, is the most special. It’s a magic-wishing apple— all your wishes, granted in a second— if you say it before you take a bite.”
Cinderella’s face showed uncertainty, but she took the apple. She wished for her stepmother and stepsisters to leave her alone before taking a bite and falling to the ground. She lay there for a minute before her body started to twitch, and Snow White let out a maniacal laugh. When Cinderella came about and tried to get up, her body ached, and her back was in immense pain. She looked down and realised her hands sagged like that of an older woman.
The dwarfs stared into the house from the window when they heard a squeak, “What happened to Cinderella?” They found a few mice standing at the next window sill, looking in in horror. They explained what they had seen and how they couldn’t understand what triggered these emotions.
“We have to go to the fairy godmother; she’d know how to reverse this!” The mice squeaked out, leaving the dwarves confused. The mice began to run while the dwarves followed them. On reaching the small hut, the mice grabbed a broom and used it to knock the door. As the door creaked open, a plump lady appeared, all groomed in a blue gown.
“Jaq! Gus! What are you doing here on such a bright afternoon?” The lady exclaimed, before being told what the mice had observed. She seemed to ponder before running back inside and appearing again, this time with a wand in her hand. As they made a run for the house, two ladies appeared in front of them.
“I’m Anastasia, and she’s Drizella, and we heard you! Poor Cinderella, turning old right before the Prince could find her. But we won’t let you go! It is our chance to shine, not hers! Cinderella doesn’t deserve to be with hi-,” Anastasia was interrupted with the wave of the wand. The fairy godmother had turned her into a duck! She looked at Drizella, ready to turn her into a duck as well, but Drizella had already run away. The group ran back with no more obstacles.
Finally, at the manor, Fairy Godmother stepped in and saw the two fighting. While Cinderella and Snow White thought they were attacking the other with strong punches, the audience saw that it was taking them a full minute to get their hand to level with the other’s face.
Stepping in between, Fairy Godmother interrupted them. As the two women took a minute to breathe, the godmother changed Cinderella back to her usual self. As she turned to Snow White, Snow White said she didn’t want it. She explained how her heart was broken beyond repair, and that her one true love didn’t feel the same way.
“But he’s just a man! Are you going to let a man decide what’s best for you?” Cinderella yelled out, before explaining to Snow White how she didn’t know about Snow White meeting the Prince. Snow White wept while she talked to Cinderella before agreeing to let Fairy Godmother change her back.
A knock on the door startled them, who could it possibly be now? They opened the door to see Prince Charming, although Cinderella and Snow White found that quite ironic. The Prince started to stutter when he saw the two. The godmother stepped in front and with a wave of her wand, turned the Prince into a frog.
“Only a kiss from a woman would turn you back to a human, but I highly doubt any woman would kiss a frog,” Godmother spoke. As they laughed, the Prince stared at them, croaking out the sorrows of losing two women at the same time.
Written by Kaavya Azad and Sanam Lulla for MTTN
Featured Image by Shriti Chandra for MTTN
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