Fantasy

Cinders and Ashes: A Short Story

By: Bronwyn Brody

This story is a spinoff of the traditional Cinderella story that I wrote as a fairy tale. It’s about a girl whose parents died and she was sent to live with her step family. They treat her poorly and so she sneaks off to the castle’s ball to meet the prince. Throughout the story, themes such as true love, family, and belonging are present as well as selflessness and humility. I hope you enjoy what I have written!

Cinders and Ashes: A Short Story

Eleanor was nine years old when tragedy struck. People say her father’s carriage crashed, or slipped off the edge of a cliff.  Eleanor thought there was more to the story, but the manners her mother taught her before she died, kept her from saying anything. The incident that left Eleanor an orphan remained a secret.  Eleanor was sent to live with her stepmother and two stepsisters. They were idle, and made Eleanor do all of the house work.

She cleaned fireplaces and learned how to cook. Eleanor’s fair skin became blackened with soot. Her rich hair faded to a gray brown. Her beautiful, singsong voice became choked from the smoke of the fire. Eleanor worked day and night, so she could please her stepmom. She did the dishes, scrubbed the walk, ironed clothes, anything her step relatives could think of. They dressed her in rags, and gave her the kitchen fireplace for a bed.

They took away her refined name and replaced it with the very thing that floated in the fireplace she slept in. Gone was radiant Eleanor and in her place the sooty Cinder. And still she did not complain. It had been eight painful years since she had lost her father, and her heart ached where his love should have been. She worked hard and for seventeen years and was pronounced a common maid. But that all changed the day the household got an invitation to the prince’s ball. She made up her mind. Nothing was going to stop her from going to that ball.

***

“Cinder! Come here and fix my coiffure! It’s teetering,” a voice yelled from the bedroom upstairs. It was coming from Ambrose, Cinder’s older sister.

“My corset’s not tight enough,” complained Arabella, Ambrose’s twin. Cinder was already climbing the stairs with a tray of sweet tea and cookies, having previously predicted her stepsister’s predicaments. She fixed Ambrose’s hair, leaving it a brilliant tower of flaxen-red locks, with curls spilling down the sides of the elaborate do, while meticulously balancing the tray of treats of the tip of her knee. After Ambrose was satisfied, Cinder moved onto Arabella. And so it went. Cinder carrying out orders, whilst her sisters found anything that could even possibly be amiss about their appearance. They primped and fussed, making sure that everything was perfect. Right when Cinder thought she was going to collapse, the page announced that the ladies carriage was waiting. Her stepmother all but shoved Ambrose and Arabella out the door, barely casting a glance Cinder’s way. Once they were gone, and the other maids, kitchen staff, and hall boys were busy cleaning up, she snuck out to her favorite section of the immense gardens. She had stashed one of her mother’s old dresses and slippers under a bench by the tree her mother used to sit under. The dress was a plain design, but it suited Cinder’s needs. She threw off her apron and shift and slipped on the dress. As she was adjusting the bodice, she was overwhelmed by the sensation of someone watching her. She whipped around, to find a handsome young man with light brown hair and eyes that matched. He was dressed in a nice, but slightly wrinkled suit, and holding the reins to a horse.

“Beg pardon,” he whispered sheepishly as a blush creeped into his cheeks.

“No, monsieur, please excuse me,” Cinder said, her own face equally flushed as she reached out her had for the gentleman to shake. The elegant, but refined, man’s horse tugged impatiently on the reins, apparently urgent to get back on the road toward the castle.

“I must be off,” he said, reaching towards Cinder’s outstretched hand. But instead of grasping it in a formal handshake, he bent down and kissed it. In one swift movement, he launched onto his horse and was galloping down the road before Cinder had the chance to breathe, much less ask his name. Her skin burned where his lips had touched it and to Cinder’s surprise, there was a delicate golden glow emanating from her hand. The glow spread and soon she was surrounded with the feeling of satisfaction and happiness like the color on her skin had seeped into her blood, and was being pumped through her very being. The glow was changing her dress too.

Before, a simple dress with a skirt which hung just past her knees and a plain bodice. Now, the bodice was a glittering, strapless, heart shaped neckline top, that flowed into a layered and lace covered skirt that pooled around her slippers as she walked. But her slippers were what really stood out. They were of the most delicate glass, intricately woven, with exquisite azure tinted butterflies that perched on the tip of the shoe’s toe, and threatened to fly off at any minute. Cinder was amazed at her transformation. The world stood still. It seemed as if the trees were all holding their breath, awaiting an unseen force. Then, like a light summer breeze, a voice reached Cinder’s ear.

“True love,” it said. And Cinder recognized it. The voice belonged to her mother.

***

When Cinder reached the place, the ball was already in full swing. She heard the merry music spilling and watched as the dancers twirled by in an elegant waltz. She didn’t want to ruin the flow of the ballroom, so she hurried around back to see if a servant would let her slip in without too much trouble. She rounded the corner and collided with none other than the handsome stranger from the garden. She was so startled by his sudden appearance, she tripped and would’ve fallen if his arms hadn't been there to steady her. His eyes twinkled as he smiled down at her.

“Careful, you might break something,” he teased.

“Are you here for the ball?” Cinder asked, hope spreading across her chest.

“Well, in a way, I suppose that, yes, I am here for the ball,” he replied. Cinder’s heart fluttered.

“May I?” He asked, holding out his arm. She took it, glad for the support. They doubled back around to the front door and the guards let them in without a fuss. As soon as they stepped into the ballroom, a hush fell over the dancers. They all stared as Cinder and the handsome stranger made their way through the crowd and into the middle of the floor. He bowed, and she curtsied, and when they started dancing, everything else disappeared from Cinder’s mind.

She didn’t care that her stepmother might see her and punish her at home. She wasn’t thinking about how before midnight, she would have to be back at her house and making tomorrow’s breakfast so that her stepsister’s would have a fresh meal in the morning. All she could think about was the handsome man and how she wished she knew his name.

After a couple of dances, he lead Cinder out to the immense gardens. The walked past different beds of flowers, and the man knew everyone by name. At the end of the row of flowers, there was brilliant gazebo. It was a white so pure it glowed. He lead her up the steps to a porcelain bench where they sat down to talk.

“Sorry, I never introduced myself,” the handsome man apologized. “My name is Ashlan, but my friends call me Ash.”

“Can I call you Ash?” Cinder asked.

Ash grabbed her soft hands in his and gazed into her bright blue eyes.

“You can call me anything you like.”

Cinder now knew what the voice she had heard in the garden meant. She loved him with all her heart, and she knew that he loved her too. She wanted to spend the rest of her life with him, and she didn’t care what the consequences of her love were. But before she could act on her new found knowledge, the clock in the middle of the garden chimed. Once, twice, and on until it reached a dozen deep tolls. Cinder had lost track of the time she had spent with Ash, and realized that she had to go. She stood up, turning around to apologize. He caught her hands in  his, and before she knew what was happening, he kissed her. Lightly, but it surprised her all the same. She stumbled down the stairs of the gazebo, losing a slipper in the process.

“Guards!” Ash yelled. “After her!”

Guards? Cinder thought. How did Ash get the proper authority to deploy the guards. Her question was answered as the chief sentry yelled for his soldiers to, “obey his highness's orders.” Thoughts swam through Cinder’s head. Then it all clicked. The stately horse from the garden. The hush that fell over the ballroom as they entered. His refined clothing style. Ash was the prince. The ball had been thrown for him.

Cinder didn't know what to do. So she ran. She ran out of the garden and slipped under the gate before anyone could catch her. Her dress was torn and her hair was damp against her face. She ran down the path and into the kitchen at her own home. The cook and her assistant had gone to sleep in the servant's quarter’s, so nobody saw as Cinder threw her ball gown in the fireplace, donned her apron and plain frock. She threw her hair up in a messy bun, and was trying to find a place to hide her remaining shoe when she heard a knock at the door. Shoving the shoe behind a vase, she went to open the door. Her stepmother and stepsisters stumbled into the room. Clumsily, all three of them collapsed onto the embroidered settee. Ambrose began snoring heavily. A sharp rapping came once more from the oak door.

“Cinder, be a dear and get that,” her stepmother drawled. She did as she was told and her heart stopped when she saw Ash, standing in the doorway, breathless and beautiful. His guards were with him, but fell back at the flick of his wrist.

“May I come in?” Ash asked. All Cinder could do was nod. She didn’t think that Ash recognized her. He came in, and Cinder could see him holding back a laugh at the comical display of the women on the couch. They looked like a gaggle of brightly colored birds. Gently, he woke Ambrose and explained to the people in the room that he had fallen in love with a fair maiden at the ball, and was going house to house to see if the shoe she left behind fit anyone. Because of it did, he would marry her and she would become queen and rule at his side. At first, Cinder was confused. Ash had only danced with her. Who was the maiden he spoke of? She had been convinced that he loved her! Was she mistaken? Then she saw the shoe Ash was taking out of his bag. It was her shoe, the glass one, with the azure butterflies. He did love her! And her step family was about to realize where she had been tonight. Slowly, he went around and tried to fit the slippers onto Ambrose and Arabella’s feet. The elder of the twins couldn’t fit her heel in because it was too broad and the younger had one too many toes. At long last, Ash turned to Cinder.

“No need to try the slipper on her,” Ambrose drawled, face still red from the effort of trying to get her foot in the shoe. But Ash ignored her and knelt down at Cinder’s feet. Carefully, he took off her worn out slipper and eased the glass one onto her stocking feet. And of course it was a perfect fit. He pulled her up and into a his arms. He pulled her close, until she heard his voice in her ear.

“True love,” he whispered, like her mother in the garden.

“True love,” Cinder replied. And this time, she wasn’t surprised when he kissed her.

***THE END***

Super Noodley

Justin Roberts

One day, in a noodle nursery in Noodle Town Noodlessippi, a baby noodle was born. The parents, Papa Noodle and Mama Noodle, decided to name their son Noodely. Little did Noodley know he was different from all the other noodles. He had the eyebrows of a god - they had special powers given to him by father Eagle. This meant  that he could achieve whatever he wanted to in life. So he became Super Noodle.

21 Years Later

“Aaaahhhh!” A scream rang in the distance. The Great Noodely shot up in his bed. “Someone is in danger!” He exclaimed. Noodley jumped out of bed and jumped out the window, flying towards the scream using his eyebrows as wings. He landed in the classic superhero pose.

“What's wrong fellow citizen?” Noodely asked.

“That noodle stole my purse!”  The she-noodle exclaimed.

“Don’t worry, I’ll stop him!” Noodely charged at the noodle, screaming his war cry “HingerDingerHingerDingerHingerDinger!” He tackled the noodle and beat the crap out of him. Exhausted, Noodely ran back to the she-noodle, handed her her purse, and then flew off back home. “Ah, another criminal down. Can’t wait for a nice relaxing night of sleep when i get home!”  

The Next Day

Noodley had just woken up and was ready for breakfast, but first he decided to figure out what the bright light outside his window was. He opened his curtain and saw fiery building collapsing and giant hands chasing after fellow Noodle Town Citizens!

Confused, he transformed from Noodley to Super Noodley! He swooped out the window and landed on the roof. He put on his super cool super zoom goggles and tried to get a better look at where the hands were coming from.

What he saw changed everything he ever knew. Noodley saw humongous figures with badges reading Noodles and Co. Shocked Noodely angrily growled, “HUMANS!”  He had to evacuate Noodle town…and quick for noodles were already being picked up by large groups.

Noodely jumped into action and flew up towards the hand trying to get some of the noodles out of the hand, but he was unsuccessful. One elderly he-noodle commanded, ”Leave Noodely - save the others!”  Noodley agreed and swooped down and landed next to a sewer cover. He used his super noodle strength to lift the cover.

He then used his super voice to shout, “Everyone get in the sewer!”  Noodley did this with ten other sewers, but they could not fit everyone in there. Worried, he boomed, “Everyone get inside a building and hide!”  At this moment Noodely saw his mother being carried up in one of the hands.  ”Mom!” he cried. He Sprang into action and converted from Super Noodely into Super Hyper Action Noodley.

Noodley shot into the air and raced like a jet towards the hand. As he approached the hand, he started to shout his war cry, “HingerDingerHingerDinger!”  He then used his dry noodle hammer ability and broke the human's wrist. All the noodles started to fall from the hand which was hundreds of feet high.

Noodley dove after the group and used his freeze power to freeze the group of people. He was then able to put the group of noodles inside a building, and un-freeze the group of noodles.

It was now time to start fighting the humans. He flew up into the bright light that noodles didn’t dare to talk about. Once his eyes adjusted to the light he could not believe his eyes. What Noodley saw was a kitchen, but not a normal kitchen. A colossal kitchen, millions upon millions upon millions times bigger than any kitchen in Noodle Town Noodlessippi.

Noodley Needed to think fast - he decided to to use dry noodle hammer and charge at the human’s neck. Squealing in pain the human fell to the ground unconscious. All the other humans swarmed around the unconscious one. Noodley attacked again this time he dove into one's mouth, choking it until it was unconscious as well. Now the other humans were starting to panic and run around. Noodley sped towards one of the human's feet. He used his super strength to pick the human up and swing it at a metal stove. “Only two more to go,” he said as he maneuvered around the kitchen towards another human. This human fought back though, grabbing Noodley. Noodley used his wet noodle power to escape the humans grip, it worked. He slid right out of the hand onto the ground and then flew up to the counter grabbed a tub of butter and spread out the butter on the ground. Noodley lured the human onto the butter slick causing the human to slip and hit it’s head on the counter.

The last human escaped though. Noodely had to make sure no other humans could get in. Noodely quickly thought of an idea, he saw a butter knife on one of the tables.  Noodley soared towards the butter knife and picked it up using his super strength. He lodged the knife in the door so no one could get in. “You humans will never get past the noodles!”  Noodley roared.

He decided it was time to let the other noodles know the good news. On the flight back home Noodley saw that a beautiful she meatball had been taken by the humans. On his flight back to noodle Town, Noodley saw a she-meatball that must have been taken by a human from her home Meat City. The she-meatball was on the floor next to the cabinet. He dropped out of the sky and ran over to her. “Are you okay?” Noodley asked as he rolled her over onto her back.

She was the prettiest meatball he had ever seen. “Yes,” the she-meatball said, “You are my hero!” Noodley picked the meatball up and flew her back to Meat City. But it was gone - completely destroyed. “No” the she-meatball said, “My family, my friends, My home!” she started to cry.

“It’s okay,” Noodley said.  “You can come live in Noodle Town.”

“Really, you would do that for me?”

“Yes” Noodley responded. The two set off back home, and lived happily ever after.